Vol. 30 No. 2 Winter 2014 ISSN 0819-8934

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70th anniversary of the D-Day landings and Normandy CampaignAt the start of June, seven Austral-ian Second World War veterans made the emotional journey back to France to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings and the Normandy Campaign.

To this day, the D-Day landings remain the largest amphibious oper-ation in the history of warfare. Close to 160,000 troops, predominately from the United States, Britain and Canada, landed on the Normandy beaches on D-Day with 875,000 having landed by the end of June. Almost 3000 Australian servicemen and women supported the operation 70 years ago. Tragically, eighteen Australians died on D-Day, includ-ing those airmen killed on the nights of 5 and 6 June, with many others wounded. Others never made the journey back to Australia.

Australia’s contribution was primarily aerial support, and the seven veterans attending the mission all served with the Royal Australian Air Force, some serving in Royal Air Force squadrons. While at times overwhelming, the veterans had

the opportunity to view the French villages and countryside that looked quite different to what it did back in 1944.

In France, the veterans were joined on 6 June by Prime Minister, the Hon. Tony Abbott MP, at the Bayeux Cathedral for a Commonwealth Commemorative service, a Com-monwealth Memorial Service at the Bayeux Cemetery, and an Interna-tional Service at Sword Beach, where Allies landed during the invasion.

During the trip to France, the group also visited memorials and military sites across Normandy, including the Pegasus Museum and Bridge. This was also an occasion for the veterans to reconnect with former comrades from other Commonwealth nations such as the United Kingdom, Can-ada and New Zealand.

The French association “Nor-mandie Mémoire” has announced they are honouring all eligible Aus-tralian and New Zealand veterans who served in Normandy, recog-nising them accordingly. While in France, the veterans were awarded

the Legion of Honour, one of France’s high-est honours, by French Minister Kader Arif at a ceremony in Caen, France. Bob Cow-per had previously received the Legion of Honour in 2004, but was on hand to see his mates receive the honour this time. The French Embassy in Australia is organising presentation ceremonies later this year in locations around Australia, to recognise those veterans who were not part of the D-Day Mission party. The commemorative

medal is available to all Australian veter-ans who served in Normandy. Veterans can contact the French Embassy in Aus-tralia for more information on +61 (02) 6216 0161 or email a copy of your current valid identification and details, and a copy of your military record relating to ser-vice in Normandy, before 31 July 2014 to defence@ambafrance-au.org

Photographs from the visit are available at www.flickr.com/dvaaus

Awarded the Legion of Honour at a ceremony in Caen, France. Veterans (l-r) Bill Purdy, Phillip Elger, Stuart ‘Snow’ Davis, (PM Abbott), Bob Cowper, Bill Evans, Ron Houghton and Fred Riley.

Strengthening access to mental health supportTackling mental health challenges facing veter-ans and their families, especially following the drawdown of troops from Afghanistan, is one of the pillars of the Government’s plan for veterans’ affairs.

There is a comprehensive service system that stands ready to meet the mental health needs of the veteran and ex-service community, and the Government spends around $166 million a year on meeting these mental health needs. This includes funding for online mental health information and support, GP services, psychologist and social work services, including the Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service (VVCS), specialist psychiatric services, pharmaceuticals, posttrau-matic stress disorder programmes, and in-patient and out-patient hospital treatment. The Gov-ernment’s funding for this treatment is demand driven, and it is not capped.

A number of new mental health initiatives will be introduced from 1 July 2014, to strengthen access to our service system. These initiatives will provide:• greater access to the VVCS for current and for-

mer members and their dependant family who

have been impacted by war and service-related mental health and wellbeing conditions;

• greater access to existing arrangements whereby DVA will pay for mental health treatment for eli-gible veterans and peacetime members without the need to establish that their mental health condition is related to service. From 1 July 2014, DVA will also pay for treatment for diagnosed alcohol and substance use disorders, and an increased number of individuals with peacetime service will also become eligible; and

• a new physical and mental health assessment for ex-serving personnel from their GP, to be funded under Medicare. The assessment will help GPs diagnose and identify early any men-tal and physical health concerns and to treat or refer appropriately to other services. DVA has also been talking to clients who have

experienced mental health conditions in order to better understand their experiences. This impor-tant work will help improve how the Department delivers services to these clients.

Read more about these mental health initiatives within this issue of Vetaffairs.

Vetaffairs has increased to 16 pages. You said you like it and we’ve listened!

2014–15 DVA BudgetOn Tuesday 13 May the 2014-15 Federal Budget was handed down by the Treasurer containing $12.3 billion for the Veterans’ Affairs portfolio.

This includes $6.7 billion in income support and compensation, and $5.5 billion in health services.

The funding will support DVA’s clients – approximately 310,000 veterans, dependants and their families; and it will support the work of DVA in providing services to the veteran community.

The main measures for DVA include:• Aligning indexation for DVA funded services for dental and

allied health care providers with arrangements under Medicare;• Amendments to the backdating of disability pension claims,

with payment to be made from date of lodgement of the claim, rather than from three months prior to lodgement, for claims received from 1 January 2015;

• Increase the number of Enhanced Compliance Programme reviews of income support payments, from 12,000 per financial year to 20,000 per financial year from 1 July 2014;

• Reviews for clients who have been in continuous receipt of inca-pacity payments for 12 months or more to assess their level of medical incapacity and their ability to work;

• $6.9 million to develop a detailed business case for a major inter-pretive centre at Villers-Bretonneux in France to ensure the service of Australians on the Western Front is appropriately rec-ognised as part of the Anzac Centenary; and

• $0.2 million to undertake a scoping study on the future manage-ment and operations of the Defence Service Homes Insurance Scheme (DSHIS).

See page 4 of Vetaffairs for further details.

PAGE 4 PAGE 5 PAGE 6

CHANGING AGED CARE SYSTEM

IMPROVEMENTS TO VETAFFAIRS

PENSIONER CONCESSION CARDS

2 — Vetaffairs Winter 2014

Vetaffairs is published by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs as a free newspaper for Australia’s veteran community.Editor Carolyn Ryanemail vetaffairs@dva.gov.au | fax (02) 6289 6025mail GPO Box 9998 Canberra, ACT 2601

Follow DVA on Facebook DVA Aus and Twitter @DVAAus.Browse DVA on YouTube DVAAus’ Channel and Flickr to see DVAAus’ photostream. Follow the links on the DVA website: www.dva.gov.au

To receive Vetaffairs electronically, visit the DVA website www.dva.gov.au and click on the Vetaffairs link on the home page. If you want to continue receiving Vetaffairs in the post, you do not need to contact DVA.

Vetaffairs is printed by Independent Print Media Group on PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) accredited paper.

LETTERSTO THE

EDITORA small sample of letters are published. Letters may be edited for readability.

The few who remain still want a Gold Card I refer to a letter to the editor published in the Autumn issue of Vetaffairs. Mr Renfield seeks acknowledgement of his Service as an Allied Vet in WWII, as he continues to wait for his Gold Card. Unfortunately I doubt anyone is listening. As an Able Seaman during 1944-1947 I was refused discharge in Australia due to crew requirements ferry-ing Australian and British PoW’s home. So, after discharge in 1947, I migrated here in 1949. That was 65 years ago last month (June).Through the Vetaffairs Notice-board we located nine shipmates from those years on HMS Formi-dable and have corresponded for nearly 20 years. There are now just four of us left and we are all in our late 80’s. Mr Renfield is quite right. There can’left. But does anyone cR.D Morris Cobram, Vic

t be many are?

The bush lost a large number When Tony Abbott stands up at Gallipoli in 2015, we will hear him say, “ I can stand here and state that Australia became a nation after World War I due to the more than sixty thousand lives lost”. As we all know, that was the greatest number of losses on a population basis of all countries involved in that War. What he won’t say is that most of those lost veterans came not from Capital cities, but from the bush.Bill Hudnott Albany Creek, Qld

War babies“War bride” sounds very exotic and somewhat glamorous com-pared to those children fathered by American servicemen. The Americans were subject to hos-tility – at times even violence – because of their access to food and presents, their ability to woo deprived women, and their young brash manner toward seasoned soldiers. The children who were the result of these flings, often stayed with the children of the soldier’s marriage and were re-ab-sorbed by the returning husband with much resentment. My sister was one of these children, and there was really not even enough positive “stuffing” between her and her father to build an effec-tive relationship. This is very sad, and in my opinion, not even important enough for a glamor-ous war story.Heather Rankin Dubbo, NSW

Building on mental health supportFrom 1 July 2014, treatment available for certain diagnosed mental health conditions is being expanded and extended under a 2013–14 Budget measure.

For eligible individuals, DVA can provide free treatment for cer-tain conditions without the need to determine that the condition is service related and without DVA needing to accept liability for that condition. These arrangements are referred to as non–liability health care.

The conditions currently covered by these arrangements include diagnosed posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depres-sion, cancer and tuberculosis. Those presently eligible include members and former members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) with eligible service under the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 and warlike or non-warlike service under the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004.

From 1 July 2014, treatment can also be provided for diagnosed substance use disorder and alcohol use disorder without the need for these conditions to be service related.

Also from 1 July 2014, a broader cohort of members will be eligible for treatment for PTSD, anxiety, depression, substance use disorder, and alcohol use disorder. Currently, members and former members of the ADF with peacetime service only are not eligible for non-liabil-ity health care unless they rendered three years continuous fulltime service between 6 December 1972 and 7 April 1994. From 1 July 2014, this cut off date will be removed and any member with peacetime service only who has rendered three years continuous fulltime ser-vice on or after 7 December 1972 will be provided with treatment for these mental health conditions.

A member or former member of the ADF with less than three years continuous fulltime service on or after 7 December 1972 where that member discharged on the grounds of invalidity or physical or men-tal incapacity to perform duties, will also be eligible for treatment for their mental health conditions.

The changes are part of the broad mental health expansion meas-ures occurring with the 2013-14 Veterans Affairs’ Budget package – Veteran Mental Health Services Expansion.

For further information on how to access treatment and eligibility, contact DVA on 133 254 or from regional Australia free call 1800 555 254 or email GeneralEnquiries@dva.gov.au

Information is also available on the DVA website at www.dva.gov.au/nlhc

Senior leadership changes at DVAOn June 13, changes to the senior leadership structure of the Depart-ment were announced.

As you would be aware, the Department is currently operating in an environment of change. This change is driven by the need to be more responsive to our diverse client groups as well as the need to operate effectively within a tightening fiscal environment.

For some time now, a series of projects have been underway to address some key priority areas, including streamlining of the governance arrangements and the implementation of the Towards 2020 DVA Strate-gic Plan. The revised leadership structure responds to these new projects ensuring appropriate focus and resources are dedicated to achieving our outcome of client-focused, responsive and connected service delivery.

In a recent Australian Public Service Commission (APSC) Review report, it highlighted (amongst other priorities), the need for service delivery reform to improve capability across DVA into the future. This is consistent with DVA’s Towards 2020 DVA Strategic Plan.

With the above in mind, some structural changes are being imple-mented across the Department, as an initial step in organisational reform. The Deputy President of the Repatriation Commission, Shane Carmody finished his statutory appointment term on 14 June 2014, and he commenced in a Chief Operating Officer (COO) role supporting the Secretary. Mr Carmody will ensure the Department operates effectively-while implementing DVA’s reform agenda, and he will also support the Secretary in the management of the Department.

A recruitment process will be undertaken for the statutory officer position of Deputy President of the Repatriation Commission. Acting arrangements will be in place until the position is permanently filled.

News from the Department

Simon Lewis, PSMSecretary Department of Veterans’ Affairs

Do you have a complaint, compliment or suggestion for DVA? Email feedback@dva.gov.au Phone 1300 555 785

Do you have a general enquiry for DVA? Email generalenquiries@dva.gov.au Phone 133 254 or from regional Australia freecall 1800 555 254

As you know, the 2014–15 Federal Budget was handed down in May, containing $12.3 billion for the Veterans’ Affairs portfolio.

The overall Federal Budget brings forward initiatives for all Austral-ians in response to the challenging financial environment. However, I should point out that for DVA’s clients, the allocation of funding remains relative to the veteran population. The funding will support our clients – around 310,000 veterans, dependants and their families; and it will support the work of the Department in providing services to the veteran community. You can read more about the Budget detail within this issue of Vetaffairs, including various cross-portfolio meas-ures that will have impacts on pensioners, including a number within the veteran and ex-service community. I encourage you to have a look at the Budget factsheet on the DVA website www.dva.gov.au/about-dva/publications/corporate/budget/2014-2015/Pages/index.aspx

On another matter, I would like to share with you some good news emerging from recent engagement with the veteran community through our online communication channels. To engage with a con-temporary veteran audience, the Department is adapting programmes to better meet their needs and behaviours. The Mental and Social Health Branch are transforming what early intervention means to this cohort, enabling clients to self-manage their mental health issues and facilitating recovery by identifying issues early and seeking pro-fessional support. This is being delivered through the At Ease mental health portal, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and mobile applications, or apps.

Recently, a Facebook advertising campaign was launched to help promote the mental health support that is available to contemporary veterans. The first two Facebook ads launched on 5 May and have received more than one million views. Subsequently, more than 13,000 Facebook users have clicked through to the At Ease website. This activ-ity will inform the development of a long term campaign to increase mental health literacy and the support available for serving and ex-serving Australian Defence Force personnel.

The At Ease website helps veterans and their families to recognise the signs of poor mental health, access self-help advice and tools, learn when and where to find professional support and learn from the sto-ries of other veterans.

With this clear evidence emerging that younger veterans are access-ing mental health information online via mobile devices, we recently launched a new mobile version of the highly-regarded At Ease mental health online portal. The mobile version of the DVA At Ease portal has been developed to give users easier access to mental health informa-tion and support on their smart phones.

With more than 50 per cent of visitors accessing the At Ease por-tal via a mobile device, DVA identified the need to provide a mobile version to deliver quick information to people on the go. I am really pleased to see that the campaign has prompted a high level of online conversation. This is important, because we want the defence and ex-service community to be talking openly about mental health issues so we can reduce stigma and encourage individuals to take steps to recov-ery. To visit the At Ease portal, go to www.at-ease.dva.gov.au

Finally, Chief Operating Officer Shane Carmody, Commissioner Mark Kelly, and myself will be speaking at and attending a number of national congresses across Australia in the coming months. This provides us with an excellent opportunity to interact with our diverse ex-service organisation community and share with them the work we are doing to improve our services to veterans. I look forward to the conversations that these events enable.Simon Lewis

3 — Vetaffairs Winter 2014

Increased access to VVCS Mental health services for veterans, members and their families will be strengthened this year with an expansion of Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service (VVCS) eligibility arrangements.

From 1 July 2014, VVCS support services will be available to eligible current and former serving members who have border protection service, served in a domestic or international disaster zone, served as a submariner, were involved in a training accident or were medically discharged.

This expanded access will also extend to include the partners and dependent children of the newly eligible service men and women. In addition, the partners, dependent children and parents of members killed in service-related incidents will be eligible for VVCS support.

Since 1982 VVCS has been accessible to Australian peacekeepers and veterans of all conflicts, along with their partners and dependant children with issues arising from the member’s military service. In addition, other members of the veteran and ex-service community as well as current serving members, who are referred to VVCS by the Australian Defence Force, have had long standing access to VVCS services and support.

The mental health of veterans is a key priority for the Government and strengthened VVCS accessibility is an important step in progressing this priority.

VVCS provides free and confidential, nation-wide counselling and support for war and ser-vice-related mental health conditions, such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, sleep disturbance and anger. Support is also available for relationship and family matters that can arise due to the unique nature of the military lifestyle.

VVCS counsellors have an understanding of military culture and can work with clients to find effective solutions for improved mental health and wellbeing.

For help, to learn more, or to check eligibility, call VVCS on 1800 011 046 or visit www.vvcs.gov.au

Your personal information and VVCS Trust and mutual respect underpin the relation-ship that develops between a VVCS client and their counsellor. This trust allows clients to speak openly about their mental health and personal situations.

Confidential notes and reports on a client’s counselling and group programme attendance are kept so VVCS can provide appropriate profes-sional help, as well as for planning and evaluation purposes.

As part of its commitment to preserving and upholding the client’s right to confidentiality and privacy, VVCS client records are stored securely on a database that is separate to DVA systems. Access to the highly secure, VVCS client infor-mation system is monitored and restricted. This ensures records are only accessed on a need to know basis.

VVCS clinical information will not be released to DVA, other government agencies or external parties without a client’s consent, unless there are exceptional circumstances where informa-tion may have to be released in accordance with the law. This would only occur where a client’s safety or the safety of others is at serious risk, in serious criminal matters, or in response to a court direction.

VVCS held client information is also protected by the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs). The APPs regulate the handling of personal information, including the collection, use, storage and disclosure of personal information, and access to, and correction of, that information.

The VVCS Privacy Policy provides more infor-mation about how VVCS manages your personal information. It covers: • the kinds of personal information that VVCS

collect and holds; • how VVCS collect your personal information; • how VVCS hold your personal information; • the purposes for collecting, holding, using and

disclosing your personal information; • how you may access your personal information

held by VVCS and correct that information where it is incorrect; and

• how you may make a complaint about the way VVCS collects, holds, uses or discloses personal information, and how VVCS will deal with pri-vacy related complaints.

For more information on how VVCS manages personal information, please visit www.vvcs.gov.au/privacy.htm or email vvcs@dva.gov.au and request a copy of the VVCS Privacy Policy.

A message from the Minister

Senator the Hon. Michael RonaldsonMinister for Veterans’ Affairs, the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Centenary of ANZAC and the Special Minister of State

The 2014 Federal Budget is good news for veterans and their families. It recognises the unique nature of military service and delivers funding of more than $12 billion to the veteran com-munity. Our investment in veterans’ pension and health care is an important part of the nation’s obligation to those who have served our nation.

The Budget fulfils our commitment to fund indexation changes for military superannuants aged 55 and over under the Defence Force Retirement Benefits Scheme (DFRB) and the Defence Force Retirement and Death Benefits (DFRDB) Scheme from 1 July this year.

These payments will continue to be indexed by the better of movements in the Consumer Price Index (CPI), the Pensioner Beneficiary Living Cost Index (PBLCI) and Male Total Average Weekly Earnings (MTAWE) and are exempt from the changes announced to other pension indexation arrangements which are effective from 2017.

Recognising the unique nature of military service, DVA Gold and White card holders will be exempt from the proposed $7 GP co-payment announced in the Budget for DVA funded treat-ment. DVA White card holders will only pay a co-payment for those services they access under Medicare arrangements, for conditions not covered by their DVA White card.

The existing reimbursement for DVA clients under the Vet-erans Pharmaceutical Reimbursement Scheme (VPRS) will continue, and eligible veterans who incur increased costs for pharmaceuticals will have them reimbursed.

The Budget also restores veterans advocacy funding and pro-vides an additional $1 million per year to the Building Excellence in Support and Training (BEST) programme over the forward estimates. This funding supports the important work of veter-ans’ advocates, pension and welfare officers, in helping veterans to access important information and services.

The 2014 Budget also places the mental health needs of vet-erans and their families at the forefront of the Government’s commitment to the veteran community. The Government will deliver, through a range of measures, improved access to sup-port through the Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service and better access to treatment for veterans and their families. These measures build on our commitment to the men-tal health of our veterans and the establishment of the Prime Ministerial Advisory Council on Veterans Mental Health announced earlier this year.

In Adelaide on 11 June, I announced a major $5 million Tran-sition and Wellbeing Study, a significant new body of research focussing on the needs and experiences of serving personnel and recent veterans. You can read more about this on the DVA web-site and on page 10 of this issue of Vetaffairs.

On a final note, I had the honour and privilege of representing the Australian Government at the Anzac Day services at Gallip-oli this year. In my speech at the Dawn Service, I reflected on the sacrifice of the first Anzacs who landed at the shores of Gallipoli 99 years ago and how these ordinary Australians did extraordi-nary things.

While visiting Gallipoli, I was also briefed on the arrange-ments for the 100th anniversary in April 2015 and I am pleased to report that the preparations are on track for this important commemorative event.

There are many exciting things happening in the portfolio and I look forward to the opportunity to discuss them with you in future issues of Vetaffairs.

4 — Vetaffairs Winter 2014

2014–15 DVA Budget continuedRecognising the unique nature of military service, the 2014–15 Budget provides:• Funding to deliver the Government’s election com-

mitment to index Defence Force Retirement Benefits (DFRB) and Defence Force Retirement and Death Benefits (DFRDB) military superannuation pen-sions by movements in the better of the Consumer Price Index (CPI), Male Total Average Weekly Earn-ings, and Pension and Beneficiary Living Cost Index from 1 July 2014 for superannuants age 55 and over.

• Restoration of funding to the Building Excellence in Support and Training (BEST) programme, provid-ing an additional $1 million per year over the forward estimates period.

• The $7 GP co-payment will not be applicable to DVA Gold Card and White Card clients for those condi-tions covered.

• Veterans eligible to access the Veterans’ Pharmaceu-tical Reimbursement Scheme will be reimbursed for out-of-pocket pharmaceutical expenses arising from the one off increase in the concessional pharmaceu-tical co-payment of 80 cents and the increase to the safety net threshold.

The Budget is part of the Government’s Economic Action Strategy to build a strong, prosperous economy and a safe, secure Australia. 2014–15 Budget measures for DVA include:• Amendments will occur to the backdating of dis-

ability pension claims with the disability pension to be paid from the date the claim is lodged for claims received on or after 1 January 2015. Backdating provisions for Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 War Widow(er) pension claims will remain unchanged.

• There will be an increase in the number of Enhanced Compliance Programme (ECP) reviews per financial year from 12,000 to 20,000. These additional reviews are aimed at ensuring clients are receiving the level of income support they are entitled to and will focus on clients who are at high risk of changes to their circumstances.

• DVA clients who have been in continuous receipt of incapacity payments for 12 months or more under either the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 or the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 will undergo a specialist review to confirm if their service related condition continues to impact their ability to work. Over a two and a half year

period, around 500 clients with a single condition will be reviewed.

• $6.9 million will be allocated towards a detailed busi-ness case and design for an interpretive centre in France to ensure the sacrifice of Australians on the Western Front during the First World War is appro-priately recognised.

• The Health Provider Fee Indexation budget initia-tive between DVA and the Department of Health (DoH) will align indexation arrangements between Medicare and DVA arrangements. These measures will not change the current health care entitlements for DVA Gold and White Card holders.

• A Defence Service Homes Insurance Scheme (DSHIS) Independent Scoping Study will consider options for the future management and operations of the DSHIS and include advice from an industry expert.

Other whole of Government measures concerning veterans include: • The Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme

(RPBS) will include new and amended listings and updates to the Medicare Benefits Scheme (MBS) that will flow through to DVA automatically.

• Annual indexation of the current income threshold for the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC) by the CPI will occur from 20 September 2014.

• From 1 July 2014, the Clean Energy Supplement will be known as the Energy Supplement and the pay-ment will no longer be indexed as the carbon tax will be removed and will no longer contribute to price pressures.

• The Seniors Supplement will be abolished for hold-ers of the CSHC and the DVA Gold Card, from 20 June 2014, while the Energy Supplement and a con-cession card will still be available to eligible seniors who do not receive a pension.

• The closure of the Pension Bonus Scheme to new registrations has been deferred to 1 July 2014.

• The Housing Help for Seniors pilot has been reversed.• The Education Entry Payment will be abolished

from 1 January 2015. • From 20 September 2017, the Service Pension (and

other DVA pension payments) will be indexed according to the CPI only. This will make indexation arrangements consistent across social security pay-ments and equivalent Veterans’ Affairs payments. Pensions will continue to be indexed twice per year.

• The income test for the CSHC will be changed to include untaxed superannuation income in the assessment, treating untaxed superannuation more fairly for CSHC holders from 1 January 2015.

• The deeming rate thresholds will be reset to $30,000 for a single and $50,000 for a couple from 20 Septem-ber 2017.

• Eligibility thresholds will be maintained for Austra-lian Government payments and a pause in indexation of all means test thresholds for income support pen-sions and allowances for three years will occur from 1 July 2017.

• Reprioritising of the Aged Care Workforce Supple-ment funding will increase the payments that can be made to Veterans’ Home Care, Community Nursing and residential aged care providers from 1 July 2014.

• The Aged Care Payroll Tax for some residential aged care providers will be abolished from 1 January 2015.

• The indexation of some MBS fees, the Medicare Levy Surcharge and Private Health Insurance Rebate thresholds will be paused. DVA medical arrange-ments will be brought into line with the existing MBS arrangements.

• The MBS comprehensive eye examination will reduce the time interval for eye examinations for those over 65 from every second year to every year, and from every second year to every third year for those under 65.

• The MBS will include new and amended listings and updates to the MBS that will flow through to DVA automatically.

• Personally Controlled Electronic Health Record funding will be allocated to support DVA in com-municating with the veteran community about electronic health records.

• A full implementation of the National Bowel Cancer Screening Programme for all Australians aged 50–74 years will occur by 2020.

The 2014-15 Budget measures outlined are subject to the passage of legislation.

More informationFor more information about DVA Budget measures, please visit www.dva.gov.auFor more information about the 2014–15 Budget, please visit www.budget.gov.au

A changing aged care system Our aged care system touches the lives of millions of Australians, including many in the veteran community. The Govern-ment spends more than $14 billion each year on aged care, supporting more than one million people who receive aged care services, with more than half a mil-lion people receiving support at home.

Our aged care system is currently world class. However, people are living longer thanks to better health and bet-ter health care. We need to make some fundamental changes now to ensure the system is sustainable, affordable, provides diverse and rewarding career options, and encourages businesses to invest and grow. The changes will also offer you, as an aged care consumer, more choice and control.

Over the next few years, there will be changes as to how aged care services are paid for and delivered.Increased transparency

As of 19 May 2014, all residential aged care providers were required to pub-lish the maximum accommodation prices they will charge from 1 July 2014, information on payment options and a description of key features of each type of room. Pricing information will be

made available on the My Aged Care website www.myagedcare.gov.au and will be available from providers’ web-sites and in other materials provided to residents, families and carers.

This will provide clear pricing and accommodation information, to help you and your family compare prices and facilities and make fully informed choices. It will also enable providers to highlight the best features of their ser-vices and facilities, making the sector more transparent and competitive. Income testing arrangements for home care packages From 1 July 2014, income testing will mean that people with similar incomes will pay similar fees for their home care, based on what they can afford to pay. The Government contribution will be dependent on your capacity to pay. If you receive a full-rate of pension you will not be asked to pay an income-tested care fee. These changes do not apply to the DVA Home Care programme.Changes to means testing in residential aged care From 1 July 2014, you will have greater choice and control over how you pay for residential care. While the Government

will continue to fund a considerable pro-portion of residential aged care costs, a new means test will determine your con-tribution to both accommodation and care costs. New accommodation payment arrangements for residential aged careFrom 1 July 2014, accommodation bonds and charges will be replaced by accommodation payments for all new residents, regardless of the level of care they enter.

The Government will continue to fully meet the accommodation costs of residents with low means, and partially support others. Residents, who are not eligible for any Government accommo-dation assistance because they have the means to pay, will be required to make an accommodation payment. You will have 28 days from the date you enter care, to choose how you pay for your accommodation – either as a refundable deposit, a daily payment amount, or a combination of both. Removal of the distinction between high and low care in residential aged care If you enter care on or after 1 July 2014, you will receive one level of approval for permanent residential care. This

means anyone with a permanent resi-dential care approval can seek a place at any aged care home that can meet their needs.

All existing high care and low care permanent residential care approvals will automatically become permanent residential care approvals.

The removal of the distinction between high and low care in permanent residential care will make arrangements simpler, more flexible and more trans-parent, without compromising the quality of care provided.

These changes will only impact peo-ple entering care after 1 July 2014. If you are already in care, your arrangements will generally stay the same.

Eligible veteran residents will not have any reduced access to DVA ser-vices, such as allied health and the Rehabilitation Appliances Programme, as a result of this change.

For more information on the aged care reforms, visit the aged care reform pages on www.dss.gov.au/agedcarereform

For more information on access-ing aged care services, visit My Aged Care at www.myagedcare.gov.au or call 1800 200 422 for more information.

5 — Vetaffairs Winter 2014

Vetaffairs survey outcomesWithin the Summer 2013/14 issue of Vetaffairs we included a survey card to gauge the views of the paper’s readership. Approximately 250,000 survey cards were distributed. The sur-vey sparked a strong response, with more than 30,000 survey responses received.

Following the Vetaffairs reader survey, we have increased the length of the newspaper from 12 pages to 16 pages. This is great news for readers, who told us that Vetaffairs continues to be their preferred way to receive news from the Department. A longer newspaper will enable more stories to be published in each issue, particularly on health, lifestyle and money matters. This is what you requested and this is what we are providing!

What did the survey responses tell us?• Approximately 96 per cent of respondents agreed that

Vetaffairs was their preferred way to receive news about the Department. Direct mail (letters) were the favoured channel for the remaining four per cent of respondents.

• Vetaffairs is read by the Department’s older cohort of clients, with 99 per cent of all respondents aged 50 years and over.

• More than 41 per cent of respondents identified themselves as female.

• Respondents usually read a significant amount of each issue, with more than 90 per cent of respondents indicating that they read more than half of each issue.

• Respondents felt Vetaffairs contained “helpful information” and was “easy to read”, with both of these points scoring very close to a “Very Good” rating. The lowest rated aspect was the “length of the newspaper”, scoring midway between a “Good” and a “Very Good” rating.

• The many affirmative hand written notes on numerous sur-vey cards, combined with the positive indicators mentioned above, point to a strong suggestion that respondents felt that 12 pages was too short.

• The Reunions and Noticeboard sections of Vetaffairs are the most liked sections of the paper, confirming anecdotal feedback that these are the first pages that readers look at when they receive the paper. These results also confirm the importance of these sections to the veteran community in sharing information and keeping in touch with old units and colleagues.

A change for the Summer issue Three issues will continue to be printed and distributed each year, while one issue (Summer) will be produced electronically only. We are still publishing four issues each year, in Autumn, Winter, Spring and Summer, and all four issues will also con-tinue to be available on the DVA website.

We know from previous years that the Summer issue is not as widely read due to the December – January festive activities and holiday season. Many of you travel over this time to be with family and friends, so quite a number of newspapers are often left unread. We also know that many of the Department’s clients already communicate with DVA electronically through channels such as MyAccount, which currently has more than 30,000 reg-istered users, as well as the Department’s website which receives more than one million page views each month. With this in mind, we hope that you enjoy the opportunity to read one issue online each year, from any location that your Summer takes you. You will simply visit www.dva.gov.au and follow the Vetaffairs link on the home page.

We will remind you in the Spring issue that you will need to log onto the DVA website to read the Summer issue of Vetaf‑fairs, and we will also notify you via social media and through a range of publications produced by ex-service organisations. You can also email Vetaffairs at vetaffairs@dva.gov.au and request to be added to an email list that will be kept specifically for alerting you that the Summer issue has been published and is available for viewing. This list will be kept for this one purpose only, and you will continue to receive the Autumn, Winter and Spring hardcopy newspapers in your letter box.

However, if you would like to make the switch to reading Vetaffairs on your screen every issue, and cancel your hardcopy altogether, visit the DVA website www.dva.gov.au and click on the Vetaffairs link on the homepage. You will need to complete a “request for an electronic version of Vetaffairs” form.

Thank you again for the feedback you gave us on Vetaffairs. The response was overwhelming.

Veteran advocacy services free for all veteransAs a valued member of the veteran community, you should never have to pay for advocacy services. The Australian ex-service community is a proud provider of these services, supported by DVA.

If an advocate indicates that they will charge a fee to work on your case, DVA encourages you to instead seek out one of the many Ex-Service Organisations (ESOs) that provide these services free of charge. The Department has a range of programmes to assist the veteran community in providing these services, including the Building Excellence in Support and Training (BEST)

Grants programme and the Training and Information Programme (TIP).

The BEST Grants programme contributes to ESOs administrative and staffing expenses and TIP furthers this by providing education to advocates on the essential skills to assist with claims, advocacy and welfare work. If you are a former or current defence force member who would like to access advocacy services, please contact your local ESO.

If you are an advocate and would like more information regarding BEST Grants or TIP, please contact DVA on 133 254 or from regional Australia free call 1800 555 254 or email generalenquiries@dva.gov.au

Accessing DVA services DVA recently held a community consultation process to examine whether the provision of Veterans’ Access Network (VAN) services through stand-alone regional shopfronts at a number of sites in NSW and Victoria is the most effective way to meet the changing needs of the veteran community.

Veterans want to be able to access DVA services through a variety of mechanisms including phone and online assistance, as well as face-to-face. However, importantly, many of you recognise that face-to-face service does not necessarily need to be provided through a VAN shopfront. There are other options.

Based on the feedback received during the consultation and DVA’s analysis of client demand trends, the following arrangements will be introduced:• Morwell VAN office will be co-located into

Department of Human Services (DHS) Morwell;

• Ballarat VAN office will be co-located into DHS Ballarat;

• Frankston, Gosford, Bairnsdale and Wol-longong VAN offices will close. Veteran information services will be provided by DHS service centres sites in Frankston, Wyong, Nowra and Morwell; and

• Bendigo, Mildura and Warrnambool agency contracts will cease and DHS service centre arrangements will be put in place in those locations.

In Ballarat and Morwell, a DVA staff mem-ber will be co-located with the DHS offices. In other locations, trained DHS staff will provide information services, with specialist training

and support from DVA staff. Each of the DHS service centres will have DVA specific signage.

In all other areas, veteran information ser-vices (VIS) will be provided in the local DHS office by DHS staff who have undertaken spe-cialist DVA training. DVA already provides similar VIS services in 17 locations across all states including Rockhampton, Port Mac-quarie, Tamworth, Dubbo and Hervey Bay.

VAN outreach services will also be deliv-ered in all regions. The outreach services will include a DVA staff member visiting the region on scheduled dates to meet with clients who require additional assistance. These will be advertised to the local veteran community and held in an appropriate meeting space.

The face-to-face client interactions will be augmented as required by additional commu-nity-based activities such as grant workshops, Day Club visits, Men’s Health Peer Educa-tion and presentations on DVA services and entitlements.

The Government is committed to a stand-alone Department of Veterans’ Affairs and these changes will ensure that DVA can con-tinue to offer services to veterans and their families for the long term.

DVA will review all arrangements over the next 12 months to ensure clients are provided with access to responsive, flexible and high-quality service.

The exact date the new arrangements will commence will be different in each region and affected clients will be advised in writing as clo-sure dates approach. No VAN shopfront will cease operation until these new arrangements are in place.

2014 Client Service Survey underwayDVA is conducting a Client Service Survey to help us improve our client service.

The survey commenced in early July, and is being conducted via telephone as well as online with all MyAccount users.

Participation is voluntary. Clients who are selected as part of a random sample will receive a letter from DVA giving them the opportunity to opt-out of the survey.

An independent research company, ORIMA Research, is conducting the survey. All feedback will be confidential and any personal details which may identify an individual client will not be passed onto DVA. Participation in the survey will not affect your current or future entitlements from DVA in any way. We value your feedback. If you are contacted to take part in

the survey, or are a MyAccount user, please take the time to have your say so we can improve DVA’s client service.

Those who are not selected to participate in the survey (but who would like to contribute their feedback) are encouraged to contact DVA on 133 254 or from regional Australia free call 1800 555 254.

6 — Vetaffairs Winter 2014

Gold Card eligibilityThe DVA Health Card – For All Conditions (Gold Card) enables access to health care and related services at DVA expense, for all health conditions, not just those related to a veteran’s Australian Defence Force (ADF) service, and is provided to certain veterans according to eligibility criteria established under the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA) and the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA).

Veterans eligible for a Gold Card include ex-prisoners of war, those who are severely disabled as a result of their service, or those who have qualifying service and have reached 70 years of age.

Essentially, qualifying service is service in a war or a conflict. The Gold Card is provided for this type of service in recognition of the unquantifiable effects of combat and service. Under the current arrangements, all veterans who served in wars such as Vietnam and Afghanistan will automatically receive a Gold Card when they turn 70.

However, service requirements also mean that some service personnel will serve only at locations within Australia and there-fore will not have the necessary qualifying service for a Gold Card, but may still be eligible for the card due to their level of incapacity.

Eligibility for a Gold Card by a veteran’s partner is different. A veteran’s spouse or de-facto partner’s eligibility for a Gold Card is linked to their eligibility for compensation payments such as the war widow(er)’s pension under the VEA or equivalent depen-dant’s compensation payment under MRCA.

Generally, a veteran’s death must be proven to be related to their service in order for their widow(er) to receive compensa-tion and the accompanying Gold Card.

However, in some circumstances, compensation payments to widow(er)s (together with the Gold Card), are granted automati-cally, such as where the veteran was an ex-prisoner of war or was eligible under the VEA for:• the Extreme Disablement Adjustment, or• disability pension at the Intermediate Rate, the Temporary

Special Rate or the Special Rate, or• a disability pension at an increased rate for certain condi-

tions, such as amputations and blindness.Furthermore, under MRCA, if the deceased veteran met the

eligibility criteria for the Special Rate Disability Pension during some period of his or her life or had been assessed as suffering an impairment of 80 or more impairment points as a result of service injuries or diseases, a Gold Card is granted.

When a veteran passes away, their Gold Card is not trans-ferred to their surviving partner. Instead, in the circumstances described above, the widowed spouse or dependant would receive their own Gold Card.

Although not every ex-member of the ADF will be eligible for a Gold Card, they may be eligible for a White Card or Orange Card which can offer considerable help with the cost of medi-cines or treatment.

The DVA Health Card – For Specific Conditions (White Card) is issued where an Australian veteran or mariner has specific, accepted war or service-caused injuries or diseases and covers the cost of treatment related to those injuries or diseases.

The DVA Health Card – For Pharmaceuticals Only (Orange Card) covers the cost of pharmaceuticals and is issued to Com-monwealth and allied veterans and mariners aged 70 years and over, who have been resident in Australia for 10 years or more, and who have qualifying service from either the First or Second World War.

New DVA Health Cards arriving nowThroughout June 2014 all DVA Health Cards (Gold, White and Orange) were reissued to all eligible veterans, war widows and dependants. Most people would have already received their new card, but if not, your card is not far away. To coincide with the reis-sue, the DVA Health Cards have been revamped to give a more contemporary look.

In addition to existing features, the new DVA Health Cards include:• an Anzac Centenary logo on a background of a field of poppies;• a longer signature stripe on the back of the card; and• the DVA security hologram on the front of the card, providing

greater visibility of this security feature.Cards are now valid for six years, instead of four years (as previ-

ously issued). Most importantly, the new cards will continue to provide you with access to DVA funded health care.

When you receive your new DVA Health Card, destroy your old card as it will no longer be valid.

New look Pensioner Concession Card The DVA Pensioner Concession Card (PCC) is undergoing a few cosmetic changes to help with better recognition and identification of cardhold-ers. The new look card will commence with the 2015 annual issue, which will be mailed to eligible clients between September and October this year.

What’s changing?

Colour and designThe colour and design of the card will be more closely aligned with the PCC issued by the Department of Human Services (Centrelink). In particular, your State/Territory name will be dis-played in text only, rather than by text and graphic as it previously appeared. This will make it easier for concession providers to recognise the DVA card.Inclusion of a Unique Identification NumberThe 2015 PCC will include your Unique Identi-fication Number (UIN) in addition to your DVA File Number. The UIN is used in DVA computer systems to help identify DVA clients. As some cli-ents have multiple state-based file numbers, and families share the same file number, including your UIN on your PCC will help third party concession providers check your eligibility for rebates, conces-sions or services.

Most concession providers are now confirm-ing eligibility electronically. However, computer systems are unable to exactly match DVA file numbers on every occasion, and this can cause problems for individuals and providers. The addi-tion of the UIN on every card will assist providers

to quickly and correctly determine your conces-sion eligibility.Individual issue of cardsIn the past, members of a couple received their PCCs together. The 2015 PCC will now be mailed individually to all eligible clients, along with a fridge magnet calendar. This change aims to sim-plify the card production process and eliminates production and distribution problems.

Importantly, there is no change to how you prove your eligibility for available concessions. Concession providers will tell you what proof they need. You can continue to show your DVA PCC. Should the provider ask for your UIN, you can simply show them your PCC or read out the num-ber as it appears on your card.

For more information on the DVA Pensioner Concession Card, contact DVA on 133 254 or from regional Australia free call 1800 555 254.

The maximum value of assets a person can have before their pension is affected:Single rate Couples rate – combined

Service or Age Pension

Homeowner $202,000 $286,500

Non-homeowner $348,500 $433,000

Income Support SupplementDifferent limits apply if assessed under transitional rules

Homeowner $586,500 $783,500

Non-homeowner $733,000 $930,000

Indexation of rates 1 July 2014From 1 July 2014 the Income Free Areas and Assets Value Limits used to calculate rates of income support pensions have risen.

The amount of income (per fortnight) that an income support pensioner may receive before their pension is reduced under the income test:

Single rate Couples rate – combined

Deeming threshold $48,000 $79,600

The deeming thresholds have also increased. This means that the value of financial assets deemed to be earning the lower rate of 2.0 per cent has risen. The higher deeming rate of 3.5 per cent is applied to the balance of financial assets over these thresholds.

Some payments under the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA) also increased, including:

New rate (weekly)

Maximum Permanent Impairment amount $324.60

Maximum rate of Household Services $459.61

Maximum rate of Attendant Care Services $459.61

Dependent eligible young person $138.99

A full list of the new rates under the MRCA is available in factsheet MRC04. For fur-ther information contact DVA on 133 254 or from regional Australia free call 1800 555 254 or visit www.dva.gov.au

Single rate (fortnightly)

Couples rate – combined (fortnightly)

Service or Age Pension $160.00 $284.00

Income Support Supplement [war widow(er)’s pension is included in these amounts]Different limits apply if assessed under transitional rules

$1,313.00 $1,773.60

7 — Vetaffairs Winter 2014

Anzac Centenary – update

Between 2014 and 2018 Australians will commemorate the Centenary of Anzac, marking 100 years since the commencement and battles of the First World War.

The Anzac Centenary period begins on 4 August with commemorations being held in capital cities to mark the day Australia became involved

in the First World War. Commemorations include a national ser-vice at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, other services around States and Territories, as well as a call for ringing of bells in churches and schools.

The First World War began when Britain declared war on Ger-many on 4 August 1914, and Prime Minister Andrew Fisher’s government pledged full support for Britain. The outbreak of war was greeted in Australia, as in many other places, with great enthusiasm.

Visit the website www.anzaccentenary.gov.au for more information.

The Anzac Centenary will provide Australians with an opportu-nity to acknowledge a Century of Service for those who have fought and served in all wars, conflicts and peace-keeping operations over the past one hundred years. It will pay tribute to two million who have served in the ADF, the 102,000 Australians who have made the supreme sacrifice as well as acknowledge the families and commu-nities who supported them and made so many sacrifices at home.

Upcoming key datesThe Department has just launched a new Facebook page, Anzac Centenary, which is focussed on commemorating the achievements and sacrifice of Australia’s armed forces over the past 100 years – like www.facebook.com/anzaccentenary to share in the spirit of Anzac, the hashtag #anzac100 is being used across social media.

The Anzac Centenary page will remember not only the original Anzacs who served at Gallipoli and the Western Front, but com-memorate more than a century of service by Australian servicemen and women.

Like the page to see regular commemorative posts and shares.

Gallipoli 2015 ballot updateThe Gallipoli 2015 ballot is now complete and all 42,273 applicants have been notified of the outcome. Those who received an offer are encouraged to accept or decline their place as soon as possible before the 25 October 2014 deadline. A waitlist will redistribute any passes that may become available and will operate until 31 March 2015.

Australians who do not receive an offer in the ballot are encour-aged to consider visiting Gallipoli at another time in 2015 including the additional centenary service at Lone Pine on 6 August; attend another Anzac Day service overseas or in Australia, or watch the ABC television broadcast. Only those who receive tickets in the ballot will be permitted entry to Anzac Day commemorations at Gallipoli in 2015.

For more information visit the Gallipoli 2015 website www.gallipoli2015.dva.gov.au

Anzac Day in France – 2014

On a cold, windy Anzac Day morning outside the vil-lage of Villers-Bretonneux, France, the mist rolled across the Australian National Memorial providing an almost ethereal atmosphere in the moments before the commencement of the 2014 Dawn Service. Almost 4500 visitors attended this year – one of the largest crowds ever to attend this service.

The Australian National Memorial displays almost 11,000 names of those missing in action in the fields of France, and with many Australians now making the pil-grimage to find the memorials or graves of their loved ones who remain on the Western Front, attending the Dawn Service on Anzac Day has become paramount when planning a visit to the area.

This year, while waiting for the Dawn Service and live broadcast to commence, a new pre-service programme, Spirit of Place, featured music and songs of the era, pro-vided by the Australian Defence Force (ADF) Band and the combined choirs of St Michael’s Collegiate School and The Hutchins School (both from Tasmania). And for the first time the service showcased images of First World War servicemen and women projected onto the Memorial tower. It closed with an unforgettable recording of In Flanders Fields by the Voices of Birralee, followed by Roll Call, where a number of students, who had travelled from Australia, shared details of some of the servicemen and women from their State and who are memorialised on the surrounding wall.

The next service was in the town of Villers-Breton-neux, about two kilometres from the Australian National Memorial, where a wreath laying service was held. The service was followed by the Sadlier-Stokes scholarship presentations to local school students which was held in the town’s covered market.

Just a few hours later and further along the Western Front, another Anzac Day service – a dual wreath-laying service – was held in the town of Bullecourt.

In a special addendum to the service, outgoing Mayor of Bullecourt, Mr Jules Laude was appointed as an Hon-orary Member (AM), General Division of the Order of Australia, by Minister for Foreign Affairs Hon. Julie Bishop MP. This appointment was on behalf of the Australian people for his many years of dedication and contribution to preserving the memory of all Austral-ians who helped his countrymen during the First World War.

The final service for the day was the Australian-led Digger Memorial service, which immediately followed the Bullecourt town service. The two are intrinsically connected by “the march” from the town, 800 metres up Rue des Australiens, the road to the Digger Memorial, which now stands guard on what is historically known as the Hindenburg Line.

The march was led by the ADF band and piper, and about 30 French flag-bearers. The children of Bullecourt joined the march, as did the 1400 visitors who attended the Digger service. Attendance was impressively larger than in previous years.

If you are considering visiting the Western Front area during the Centenary period, Anzac Day services will continue in both France and Belgium. Additional Cen-tenary services were recently announced for: • 19 July 2016 at Fromelles, France• 23 July 2016 at Pozières, France• 26 Sept 2017 at Polygon Wood, Belgium• 4 July 2018 at Le Hamel, France• 11 November 2018 – Australian National

Memorial, FranceIf you are planning to travel for Anzac Day in France,

make sure you check out the Australian Remembrance Trail information at www.ww1westernfront.gov.au and plan your visit. You will also find helpful infor-mation regarding Anzac Day services in France at www.dva.gov.au/france

News from the Western FrontFollowing Anzac Day 2014, the first stage of the new interpretive and visitor facilities was officially opened at Pozières, as part of the Australian Remembrance Trail along the Western Front. The Australian Government contributed $235,000 to the development of walking trails, interpretive displays and visitor facilities in the local area, in partnership with local French authorities. There has also been a redevelopment of the memorial park around the Gibraltar Blockhouse, together with a new raised viewing area featuring an orientation table that highlights significant battlefield points.

In a little more than six weeks between July and August 1916, more than 23,000 Australians were killed or wounded at Pozières – almost as many casualties as Australia sus-tained in the nine months at Gallipoli. Among the dead was Major Duncan Chapman, from Maryborough in Queensland, who as a subaltern is generally accepted as the first man ashore at Gallipoli, on 25 April 1915. He defied the odds to escape Gallipoli without a wound, but was one of many Gallipoli veterans who would die at Pozières. The last Australian to leave Anzac Cove in December 1915, Major Charles Littler of Devonport, aged 48, also died at Pozières. Affectionately known as the “Duke of Anzac”, Charles Littler had been the beach master at Anzac Cove.

Chapman and Littler are commemorated at the Aus-tralian National Memorial (ANM) at Villers-Bretonneux,

which is inscribed with the names of more than 10,700 Australian soldiers who died in France and who have no known grave.

In other news, at Villers-Bretonneux, the Australian Government contributed more than $2.5 million and worked closely with French authorities to upgrade and relocate the road D23 which passes along the front of the ANM to improve safety and visitor access. The road rede-velopment was completed in late 2013, and was followed by upgrades to car parking facilities and major landscap-ing which was completed in time for Anzac Day. It was quickly put to the test, facilitating the safe movement of approximately 4500 participants for the Dawn Service.

The ANM site at Villers-Bretonneux is the proposed location for the Sir John Monash Centre, mentioned by the Prime Minister on Anzac Day. A detailed proposal is being developed for consideration by the Government.

In technology news, the Australians on the Western Front 1914–1918 website has received a major update. Many new interactive features have been added to enhance and complement visits to sites along the Trail. The website also provides a complete experience for those unable to travel. It features audio, photographs, maps and animations. Inter-pretive material is available in three languages: English, French and Dutch. Visit www.ww1westernfront.gov.au

Cutting the ribbon at Pozières. Lieutenant General Ash Power, AO CSC, Commander Joint Operations, with the Mayor of Pozières, M. Bernard Delattre, DVA First Assistant Secretary Dave Chalmers (second from right) and other officials.

8 — Vetaffairs Winter 2014

Hot spots, pox and shinglesD GRAEME KILLER AO

PRINCIPAL MEDICAL ADVISER

R

It is not often that we as doctors walk in the shoes of our patients, but when the doctor

atien t experience and a totally different mepatient with shingles ay patient experience wa

becomes the patient, the p journey certainly takes on aning. I recently became a nd it was clear to me that m s far dif-ferent from my (usual) understanding as a doctor. It was not a lot of fun!

For those of you who don’t know much about shingles, in lay terms, shingles is an outbreak of herpes zoster and, in fact, is the same virus that causes chicken pox early in life. It is often sur-prising to many people that 20 to 30 per cent of Australians will have an episode of shingles in their lifetime. That is a high statistic, and it is often more complicated if we are over the age of 60. After the age of 60, we are more likely to have shingles complicated by post-herpetic neu-ralgia (PHN), a potentially serious chronic pain syndrome affecting the nervous system. Suffer-ers often experience this chronic pain for weeks, months or (rarely) years.

In the majority of patients, shingles presents as an acute self-limiting rash, which is often quite painful and lasts approximately 10 to 15 days. Shin-gles can be associated with headaches and fever, and when the rash develops, it is usually on one side of the body, such as the chest, lower back area or face. Prior to the development of the rash, there are often symptoms such as itching, tingling or severe pain. There are a number of circumstances that make the reactivation of the chicken pox virus (herpes zoster) and the development of shingles more likely to occur.

These include:• being aged over 50;• period of increased stress;• long term use of steroids as part of the treat-

ment for other medical conditions;• cancer treatments such as chemotherapy or

radiotherapy; or• any medicine affecting the immune system.

Some common complications may include skin pigmentation and scarring, secondary bacterial infection of the rash, nerve palsies, eye involve-ment and increased sensitivity of the skin.

The aim of the treatment of shingles is to accel-erate the healing of the zoster rash, reduce the duration of the severity of pain and decrease the risk of complications, including PHN. Aggressive treatment early in the acute phase of shingles using anti-virals and analgesics improves patient com-fort and reduces the likelihood of PHN. It is worth pointing out however, that appropriate anti-viral therapy is available but should be initiated within 72 hours for optimal treatment benefit.

In terms of the prevention of shingles, there is a vaccine available if you have a Gold Card or White Card with appropriate accepted disabilities. The provision of Zostavax (shingles vaccine), is on the basis of a prior approval application from your doctor to the Veterans’ Affairs Pharmaceutical Advisory Centre (VAPAC). Approval of Zostavax is dependent on meeting specific immunisation crite-ria. You can discuss the benefits of the vaccine with your doctor. I certainly think this is a discussion worth having.

Increase to Travel Allowances Travel allowances for transport, meals and accom-modation under DVA’s Repatriation Transport Scheme increased from 1 July 2014 in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) Figures.

The increase applies to travel by private vehicle as well as accommodation and meal allowances in respect of travel for treatment purposes or dis-ability and income support claims for all eligible veterans, war widow/ers (entitled persons).

The intention of the scheme is to provide assis-tance with travelling expenses for an entitled person and their medically required attendant, not necessarily to reimburse the entire cost incurred. To claim reimbursement for transport, a cost must be incurred.

For any queries about travel allowances con-tact Veterans’ Transport Services on 1300 550 454 (for metropolitan areas) or 1800 550 454 (for coun-try areas).

Type of allowance Measure New Allowance 1 July 2014

Travel with an authorised attendant

Private vehicle Per kilometre

33.3 cents x1

Public transport Actual fare Actual fare x2

Commercial accommodation non‑Capital City – single1 Per night $137.30 x2

Commercial accommodation Capital City – single1 Per night $163.00 x2

Attendant and veteran sharing commercial accommodation – shared1 Per night $223.20 x1

Subsidised accommodation – single1 Per night $85.80 x2

Private accommodation – single1 Per night $42.80 x2

Meal allowance2– more than 50km but less than or equal to 200km from your home to the treatment location

Per day $13.60 x2

Meal allowance2– more than 200km from your home to the treatment location Per day $27.60 x2

1All accommodation allowances include a daily meal allowance. 2A meal allowance is not paid on a day where an accommodation allowance is paid.

Managing hearing lossHearing loss is a condition that will affect all of us to varying degrees at some stage in our lives. Once it occurs, it is difficult to reverse, even with modern hearing aids, appliances and rehabilitation programmes.

Hearing services for DVA eligible clients are provided in a programme of hearing rehabilitation through DVA arrangements with the Office of Hearing Services (OHS).

Dr Graeme Killer, DVA’s Principal Medical Adviser says it is worth remembering that once hearing is damaged, no hearing device or aid will restore ones hearing to original acuity.

“Individual hearing rehabilitation programmes consist of assessment, information sharing, education about strategies and behaviour modification. These programmes will help you to make the most of your communication abilities and better manage your hearing loss … but the hearing loss needs to be managed rather than ignored,” Dr Killer said.

If assessment reveals hearing devices will help with your hearing rehabilitation programme, in the first instance patients are offered free hearing aids. These hearing aids come from a broad panel of approximately 200 quality digital technology instruments that are updated monthly. Automatic adaptive directional microphones and digital noise reduction aids are just some of the many features found in this high technology panel. These devices cover the hearing needs of nearly every DVA client.

However, you may also be introduced to “top-up” hearing devices that have additional features above those that are required to meet your hearing needs. The additional features may include (but are not limited to) aesthetic benefits and/or noise reduction features, and although some patients may find these features appealing or convenient, they are not assessed as necessary in a hearing aid.

If you choose a “top-up” device, any extra associated costs are a matter of negotiation between you and your provider. Additional “top-up” costs are not covered by DVA or OHS.

Approach your hearing services provider if you are unsure about any aspect of your hearing rehabilitation programme or contact the OHS on 1800 500 726 for specific information or advice.

Take command of your mental health atwww.at-ease.dva.gov.au

If you are struggling with life after deployment or military service, DVA’s AT EASE website can be your

first step to recovery. You’ll find self-help tips and tools, videos about anxiety, depression and anger,

and apps for PTSD and managing alcohol. There are links to professional help and a section for families.

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9 — Vetaffairs Winter 2014

Self-help following Trauma After a distressing or traumatic experience, it’s normal to find your-self thinking about it when you don’t mean to, maybe finding yourself going over and over what happened and even dreaming about it. If it gets too distressing, we might deliberately try to block it out and force ourselves to think about something else. This usually settles down within the first couple of months following an event or incident. But if it keeps going and you don’t feel like you’re able to come to terms with what has happened, you might have a problem with posttraumatic stress and you need to take action.

If you are struggling with unwanted thoughts or memories, there are a few things you can do to get on the path to recovery.

Tell your storyYou might be trying to forget about what happened and you might feel as though talking about it will be way too painful. But in reality, talking about your experience with someone you trust, or even just writing it down, can be really helpful. The more you do something, the easier it gets, and it’s the same with telling your story. Also, talking about your experience helps you to make sense of what happened and (perhaps) see it from a different perspective. Sometimes people don’t talk about it, fearing it will upset family or friends. However, if one of your family or friends was distressed, you would want to help, so trust them to tell you if it becomes too much. If you find talking about your experience extremely upsetting and this distress is affecting you, it’s probably best to talk it through with a qualified health professional.

Manage your anxietyAfter a trauma, it’s common to feel wound up and anxious, especially when you’re reminded of what happened. It can be helpful to use anxiety management strategies like breathing exercises, relaxation or exercise as part of your daily routine to help manage those feelings.

Avoid avoidingBeing reminded of the traumatic event can make you feel really anx-ious or upset, so it often seems easier to avoid situations where you might be reminded of what happened. This might seem sensible, but avoiding reminders of your traumatic experience can actually make your distress worse. That’s because you don’t get the chance to get bet-ter at managing the feelings that come with reminders, and to realise that you can handle them (even though the feelings are unpleasant).

Look after yourselfAfter a traumatic experience, it’s easy to forget about the basics. Maintaining your physical health will make it easier to work on your mental health. Try to eat well, maintain regular sleep patterns, exer-cise regularly and avoid drinking too much or taking drugs.

For some people, these strategies might be all that is needed. For others, they can be a useful addition to getting professional help. Read more on the At Ease mental health portal www.at-ease.dva.gov.au or watch real stories at www.youtube.com/dvaaus or call the Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service on 1800 011 046.

Updated RAP Schedule of Equipment Veterans will benefit with an updated Rehabilitation Appliances Pro-gramme (RAP) Schedule of Equipment that is now available. The schedule lists a wide range of aids and appliances which eligible persons can obtain to help them remain both independent and living within their own home.

Schedule items are available for eligible persons on the basis of an assessed clinical need. The schedule also sets out the quantity limits for items and provides guidance to health providers in their prescription.

The internal review of the schedule was undertaken over a six month period by a panel consisting of a Local Medical Officer, Occupational Therapist, Physiotherapist and Registered Nurse, in addition to senior staff from within DVA. The last review of the schedule was undertaken in 2008.

A key objective for the review was to ensure that the schedule was still relevant to, and meeting, current community standards. The review team was required to determine if the schedule was still meeting the needs of an increasingly diverse treatment population, including veterans from contemporary deployments and their dependants. All items on the schedule were assessed by the panel. As a consequence some superseded items were removed from the schedule and other items, for example to support speech pathology needs, were added.

In addition, the schedule has seen the abolition of eight guidelines and the merging of two other guidelines. The removal of these guidelines represents a significant step forward in streamlining the administrative red tape which was previously required for many of the more expensive items on the schedule.

Security of your MyAccount InformationYour information is safe in MyAccountThe privacy and security of your information is important to us.

Robust Government security DVA provides a secure environment and reliable system in the collection and storage of your personal information within MyAc-count. We regularly monitor, test and update the security of our system so that your data is always protected.

Choose a secure passwordDVA clients can make their account even more secure by choosing a secure password. A good password will be at least seven non-repeated

characters and include one or more numbers or the characters: ! @ # $ % ^ & *. Care must be taken that you do not provide this password to anyone else.

For more information on DVA and myGov security For further information on the security of your information, please see the DVA privacy policy at www.dva.gov.au/footer/Pages/privacy.aspx

Information on your myGov account is stored in compliance with Australian Government security and privacy requirements. If you would like further information regarding myGov security, please visit the myGov Security page at www.my.gov.au/mygov/content/html/ security.html

Helping our service providers through technology Making it easier for service providers to interact with DVA results in better service for DVA clients.

DVA’s service providers deliver service to veterans and their families on behalf of DVA. They require assistance to schedule delivery of their services to better meet the needs of DVA clients. Additional online services for service providersDVA has already delivered online facilities for some service providers – with more scheduled later this year. • In February 2011 DVA delivered the Transport Booking and Invoicing System. This provided

transport providers and health providers with an efficient and easy way to do business with DVA.• Since early June 2014 DVA has been piloting a new online portal for organisations that provide

services on behalf of Veterans’ Home Care (VHC). The VHC Pilot Provider Portal is a prototype for delivery of online services for other DVA service providers in the future.

• In November 2014 the pilot will be extended to deliver online services to ex-service organisations to support the work of pension and welfare officers who manage claims on behalf of DVA clients.

Medical Alarms and connecting to the NBNThe National Broadband Network (NBN) is an Australian Government initiative which will bring high speed broadband and telephone services within reach of all Australian premises by 2021.

The NBN Co is currently rolling out the network in phases across Australia. Once the network is available in your area, phone and internet providers will be able to offer NBN services to you and connect your home to the new network.

The introduction of NBN telephone services (in particular) may have implications for people who use medical alarms – also called Personal Response Systems (PRS) from DVA. Medical alarms rely on fixed telephone lines to place calls to a monitored call centre in the event of an emergency.

Medical alarms can work under the NBN but medical alarm users will need to ensure their telephone provider (new or existing) is aware that they have an alarm and can support the con-tinued operation of their alarm. In some cases, new equipment or extra wiring may be required. If the NBN is rolling out in your area and you have a medical alarm:1. Call your medical alarm provider to ask which phone or internet services over the NBN will

support your medical alarm and ask what, if any, in-home wiring changes are required.2. Call your preferred phone company or internet service provider and let them know that you

have a medical alarm and tell them your alarm requirements to place your order for a landline phone service over the NBN. Arrange to have any required wiring changes done to connect your medical alarm to the NBN.

3. Test your medical alarm after the installation of NBN equipment at your premises to confirm that your alarm is working correctly with your provider.

4. Register your address on the NBN Co Medical Alarm Register by calling 1800 227 300 or visiting www.nbnco.com.au/medicalregister

For more informationFor more information on switching over to the NBN or to find out when it will be available in your area, contact NBN Co on 1800 687 626 or visit www.nbnco.com.au/switch

10 — Vetaffairs Winter 2014

Australian Institute of Family Studies ConferenceFamilies continue to be central to DVA’s business and have been identified as a major priority area for research. All families today are living in a world of rapid economic, environmental and technologi-cal change. This is no different for the families of veterans and Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel. In fact, these families often experience unique challenges due to the nature of the work the family member undertakes, including deploy-ments away from home and the possibility of injury and exposure to danger and trauma.

DVA has partnered with the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) to undertake research work in the families domain. DVA, in partnership with Defence is presenting a symposium titled “Military service, veterans and their families” at the 13th Australian Institute of Family Studies Conference 2014 – Families in a rapidly changing

world. The conference is being held in Melbourne, over two days – 31 July 2014 and 1 August 2014.

The AIFS conference provides a valuable oppor-tunity for government policy-makers, service providers and practitioners, researchers and com-munity organisations to meet and exchange ideas and knowledge. DVA hopes their contribution and involvement in the conference will raise the profile of veteran and defence families and pro-vide links with external organisations to improve the lives of veterans, defence force personnel and their families.

Importantly, the work of the Veteran and Vet-eran Families Counselling Service (VVCS) will be showcased, as well as a suite of e-technology appli-cations designed to assist both veterans and their families face the challenges of life after service.

Information on the conference is available at www.conference.aifs.gov.au

Senior International Forum and Ministerial SummitIn early April 2014, DVA Secretary Simon Lewis and First Assistant Secretary Health and Community Services Division, Judy Daniel repre-sented the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and the Department at the Senior International Forum and Ministerial Summit. These meetings were hosted by the United States Department of Veter-ans’ Affairs at the West Point Military Academy.

Meetings of this sort are held every two years between officials from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States. They provide an opportunity for heads of Department and Ministers responsible for Veterans’ Affairs to come together and discuss emerging issues, hear about latest research find-ings and hear how different countries deal with complex veteran and military health topics.

Ms Daniel presented on the Department’s research programme, outlining DVA’s new, pro-active strategic research model, and the vital importance of engaging with the research com-munity. DVA’s work with the Department of

Defence has underlined this enhanced collab-orative approach, through joint programmes such as the Transition and Wellbeing Research Programme and the Long-term Effects of Rehabil-itation Arrangements for Serving and Ex-Serving Personnel. These joint programmes are allow-ing DVA to better understand the continuum of care, enabling the Department to enhance early intervention strategies and maximise long-term health and wellbeing.

Important research to be released by DVA in the coming year was highlighted, includ-ing health and wellbeing studies on Australian Peacekeepers, personnel deployed to Rwanda, families of Vietnam veterans and Mothers in the Middle East Area of Operations.

Moving forward, DVA has a strong research focus on women’s veteran health issues, mental health, families, as well as veteran care service models for the future. These international rela-tionships will assist Australia to strengthen its provision of quality care and services for veterans.

Suicide and the elderlySuicide is often seen as a young man’s epidemic, but the latest statistics show that older Austral-ian men are now more likely to take their own life than Australians of any other age group. Accord-ing to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, in 2012, the highest rate of suicide was for men aged 85 and older, at 37.6 suicides per 100,000. This is more than triple the national rate.

Any death by suicide is tragic. Unfortunately, it is difficult to accurately assess suicide rates in the ex-serving community. DVA does not hold records of all veterans who have served with the Austral-ian Defence Force only those who have lodged a claim for benefits or services. Generally, DVA only becomes aware of a veteran’s death (by any cause including suicide) when a claim for compensation is made by a surviving dependant.

As at January this year, DVA has accepted claims relating to the deaths by suicide since 1 Janu-ary 2002 of 85 veterans. These claims were in respect of veterans who had served in the military from the Second World War to the present day.

No matter what your age, looking out for the signs of challenged mental health is important. For older men, suicide is often associated with declin-ing health including chronic pain, social isolation, lack of social support, and evolving depression and hopelessness.

There is action we can take. The Operation Life web-site and workshops run by the Veterans and Veterans

Families Counselling Service (VVCS) offer advice on how to prevent suicide.

Some of the warning signs of suicide amongst elderly people include:• Loss of interest in things or activities they usu-

ally found enjoyable • Cutting back social interaction, self-care, and

grooming• Breaking medical regimens (for example, going

off diets and/or prescriptions) • Experiencing or expecting a significant per-

sonal loss (for example, the death of a spouse) • Feeling hopeless and/or worthless (“Who

needs me?”) • Putting affairs in order, giving things away, or

making changes in wills• Stock-piling medication or obtaining other

lethal means. It is OK to ask the question “Are you thinking of

suicide?” as it gives permission for the person to talk about what they might have been considering. The next step is to listen, make sure they are safe, and help them access professional support. If a life is in danger, call emergency services, as Triple Zero staff are experienced at handling suicidal callers.

The key to good mental health is to take action early:• Stay active and connected• Go online to DVA’s mental health portal At

Ease www.at-ease.dva.gov.au• Talk to your GP• Talk to VVCS on 1800 011 046, 24 hours a day.

Transition and Wellbeing Research Programme

On 11 June, the Government launched the $5 million Tran-sition and Wellbeing Research Programme which is a sig-nificant new programme of research into the mental health and wellbeing of contemporary service personnel and veterans. Defence will contribute $1.2 million and DVA will contrib-ute $3.8 million to this research programme.

This is the largest and most comprehensive programme of study undertaken in Australia to examine the impact of mil-itary service on the mental, physical and social health of serving and ex-serving per-sonnel and their families who

have deployed to contemporary conflicts. The programme will

consist of three major studies. The first two studies will be conducted by the Centre for Traumatic Stress Studies at the University of Ade-laide. The third study will be conducted by the Australian Institute of Family Studies.

The first study, the Mental Health and Wellbeing Transition Study, will target both serving and ex-serving personnel to determine their mental, physical and social health status.

The second study, the Impact of Combat Study, will comprehensively follow-up the mental, physical and neuro-cognitive health of person-nel who deployed to the Middle East Area of Operations between 2010 and 2012.

The third study, the Family and Wellbeing Study, will investigate the impact of military service on the health and wellbeing of the families of serving and ex-serving personnel.

Tackling the mental health challenges facing veterans and their families is a key pillar of the Government’s plan for veterans’ affairs. A strong, vibrant and resilient community is an integral component of our Australian landscape. History has shown that as a society, we support our mates through hard times. We succeed when everyone works together.

Senator the Hon. Michael Ronaldson speaks at the launch on 11 June.

Improvements to the DVA strategic research modelDVA’s Applied Research Programme generates best practice research into the health and wellbeing needs of Australia’s veteran community and seeks ways to improve services and care.

Changes to DVA’s strategic research model were implemented in July 2013 to improve the availability and quality of evidence based research. The new model is now fully operational and is enabling DVA to under-take a more hands-on approach in managing the development and implementation of research affecting the veteran community.

DVA’s strategic research model makes it easier to collaborate with other agencies and researchers, particularly with the Department of Defence. DVA and Defence are actively working together on a number of large shared projects to provide insight into the short and long-term health and wellbeing of serving and ex-serving personnel.

The new model enables more focused evidence-based research in four domains: • longitudinal studies – these studies assess health outcomes in vet-

eran populations over time; • predictive modelling – these studies use data to forecast trends and

patterns in the veteran community; • families – these studies focus on the health and wellbeing of fami-

lies of veterans; and• interventions – these studies assess the effectiveness of health

related programmes and services designed to assist veterans in their daily lives.

The research needs identified by DVA in consultation with our rel-evant research partners (research institutions, universities, overseas government veteran agencies, ex-service organisations and internal business areas) is a driving force behind each research project.

Applied research is a major strategic priority for DVA and the current programme contains an assortment of projects to assist DVA main-tain its place at the forefront of veteran research both in Australia and within the international arena.

Further information about the Applied Research Programme is available on the DVA website at www.dva.gov.au/health_and_wellbeing/research/arp/Pages/index.aspx or email the research team at research@dva.gov.au

Football star continues his work with DVA11 — Vetaffairs Winter 2014

A Queensland football star is continuing his work with DVA to help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ex-serving men and women get the support and recognition they deserve from the Department. Gold Coast Titans player Preston Campbell is helping to engage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander com-munities across Australia as part of DVA’s Indigenous Champion Project. He is the founder of the NRL Indigenous All Stars team and works tirelessly in the community as an Ambassador for the Gold Coast Titans and One Community, focusing on improving indigenous wellbe-ing and health.

“In my role as Indigenous Champion for DVA, I recently had the privilege to travel to Palm Island for a footy match between the Defence Force and the Palm Island Skipjacks in honour of Uncle Bill Coolburra. He was a respected Palm Island Elder and member of this com-munity, and a proud veteran of the Australian Defence Force,” Preston said.

Preston was so inspired by Bill’s story, that he did some additional research and found Bill’s own account of his service in Vietnam. This is an extract of those words:

My name is Bill Coolburra. I was in the first batch of Austra‑lian soldiers to be sent to Vietnam. I was a sapper, or military engi‑neer, and one of the first tunnel rats. We had to descend into dark

tunnels searching for Viet Cong with a torch and a pistol. Some of the tunnels were so small you had to inch your way along on your belly, hoping the next bend didn’t have a VC waiting for you with a shotgun to blow your face off. The tunnels were dark and had their own smell. I was gassed in a tunnel once and the next thing I knew the padre was pronouncing the last rites over me. As a result I have been unable to sleep in the dark since.

I also saw some terrible things done to village people and the memories have haunted me ever since. It took me a long time to get over the sounds of helicopters flying over my home and even in these later years certain sounds have scared me. I witnessed “heli‑copter interrogation” and always felt guilty that I could do nothing to stop it happening. There was a battle involving Australian troops and my unit was needed for sup‑port. I was the lead scout and a grenade trap almost cost my life and the lives of my buddies when the grenade fell from a bough and missed my face by an inch. I saw the striker go down and the smoke coming out of the grenade, but it hit the ground and failed to explode.

I saw many other things that have made life a living hell since returning home.

Now many of my old friends have died. A lot are alcoholics and into other drugs as well to try and push away the terrible memo‑ries. Many of us feel that there is

little if any hope of recovering and some just give up completely.

Preston said there are many more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men and women just like Bill, who have served this country with distinction throughout our wartime his-tory, and still do today, in places like Afghanistan.

“The Indigenous Champion Project is a step in the right direction to ensuring that all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander servicemen and women get the recognition they deserve and the help they may need.

I encourage any Australian veteran who has served, or know someone who has, to get in con-tact with DVA. Whether they want to have their service recog-nised or find out more about the support available to them, I’d encourage them to give DVA a call,” Preston said.

For more information about DVA services and support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander veterans visit www.dva.gov.au/indigenous or call DVA on 133 254 or from regional Australia free call 1800 555 254.

Preston Campbell

From left: Uncle Rick Gross; WOFF Don Taylor; John Enchong; Preston Campbell; Uncle Vern Hopkins and Uncle Victor Slockee. Read more about Preston’s conversations with these veterans in the next issue of Vetaffairs.

MEDALS LOST & FOUND

LOSTTwo medals at the Sydney Anzac Day march belonging to RICHARD M EVANS, 642503. May have been lost in Wynyard on the road or in the Jeep Mrs Evans travelled in. Contact Joyce Evans, (02) 9740 5912.

FOUNDWWII medals of HARRISON PATRICK STUBBS QX8789 Second AIF, next of kin Horribin E. Contact John Simmons, jrs-simmons@bigpond.comRSL (Qld Branch) is seeking the owners, or their families, of medals/memorabilia belonging to the following – WWI 5220 ALLUN GRANT, WWI 1378 HAROLD WESTON BROOKS, WWI 7023 CHARLES PHILLIPS, QX47782 JOHN GREEN, NX60383 FREDERICK JAMES SAUNDERSON, QX53993 KENNETH GILBERT BLACKWELL, QX52490 CEDRIC FRANCIS MAYNE, QX55712 BRUCE HAMILTON PAGE. Contact Steve, (07) 3634 9444, steve.eaton@rslqld.orgWWI medal handed in to Hampton Vic RSL. It belonged to PTE G YOUNG 12/BN AIF and I would like to return it to his descendants. Contact Frank Corcoran, (03) 9598 3474, corcorf@bigpond.net.auReturned Service badge, handed into Melb East Police, prop-erty ID no. 201404-m-2094. On the back is the number A420641. Contact Elise, elise.beattie@police.vic.gov.auTwo medals, no ribbons, inscribed A G HOLDSWORTH 1939/45 and a WWI medal inscribed 1914/1918 PTE F I MAR-TINDALE 52 BTN AIF. Contact Frank Beitzel, (07) 3345 1069.WWI medal, J J O’CONNOR 18thBTN. Contact R O’Neill, (02) 4576 1220.

A few safety tips as we welcome WinterUnfortunately at this time of the year, as the weather cools, a number of seasonal related events often occur. As the seasons change, for some it is accompanied by increased weather activity and occasionally (especially in Winter), accidental fires caused by home heating and cooking. Here are a few tips that might help you avoid damage or injury in your home.

Fire prevention • Most States now require a smoke alarm and

it makes good sense to have them installed in your home. Remember to regularly test the batteries in your smoke detector. Contact your State Fire Service for further advice.

• Keep all items clear of any heat source, for example, hot plates, heaters, the fire place or gas flames.

• Check clothes driers to make sure lint filters are clean after each dry load.

• When cooking, make sure ovens and hot plates are not left unattended.

• Have a fire blanket or dry powder fire extin-guisher in close proximity to areas such as the kitchen.

• Prepare a Fire Evacuation Plan and talk it through with your friends and family who live with you.

• Have your chimneys and flues checked before lighting your first fire.

• Faulty electrical appliances should be repaired by a qualified electrician or throw them in the garbage immediately.

Reduce the chance for injury around the house• Bathrooms and toilets should have slip resis-

tant floors or mats. • If necessary, arrange to have grab rails installed

in high risk areas.• Watch out for frayed or loose edges on floor

coverings. You might remember where the hazards are, but visitors tripping in family homes is common.

• Check paths for cracks, uneven or slippery areas.

• Check your balconies, patios and stairs to make sure they are safe.

Weather precautions• It is a good time to have your roof and gutters

checked to make sure they are safe and don’t require any maintenance. Make sure your gut-ters are clear of leaf mulch, as many claims arise from blocked gutters causing rain to enter homes, ruining ceilings and ceiling insulation.

Most State Fire Services have lots of safety tips on their internet sites. They provide a good source of information, so check them out regularly to ensure you are as prepared as you can be.

If you would like a copy of the brochure Enjoy‑ing your home for longer and Home Maintenance Tips, visit www.dsh.gov.au/insurance or contact Defence Service Homes Insurance on 1300 552 662.

12 — Vetaffairs Winter 2014

WIDOWS’ NEWS

Timor-Leste veterans and war widows

Veterans and war widows from Timor-Leste visited Sydney in April 2014 to meet with DVA and ex-service organisations to look at ways Aus-tralia supports its veterans and war widows.

The veterans attended a reception hosted by the RSL NSW and also attended the War Wid-ows’ Guild’s Anzac Field of Remembrance.

The delegation visited the War Widows’ Guild, where State President Wendy Thompson and CEO NSW Patricia Campbell provided an over-view of how and why the Guild was established and how it supports war widows in Australia.

In an historic mission of solidarity, 20 Timor-Leste veterans walked alongside Australian veterans in the Sydney Anzac Day March.

Australia’s Defence and veteran communities have a long relationship of mutual respect with

Timor-Leste dating back to the Second World War. Thousands of Timorese people paid the ultimate sacrifice for their sup-port of Australian soldiers deployed in “Portuguese Timor”. In turn, Australian soldiers, particularly the 2/2nd and 2/4th Comman-dos, have never forgotten the bonds of loyalty and friendship forged. Almost 50 years later, Australian forces were pivotal in the INTERFET mission to consolidate peace in what was soon to become the world’s newest nation, Timor-Leste.The group, including

four women, represent members of the armed, clandestine, and diplomatic wings of Timor-Leste’s 24-year struggle for the restoration of Independence.

Amongst the Timorese veterans are men and women who suffered long terms of incarceration as political prisoners, widows who continued resolutely in their activism after losing their husbands to the struggle, and men and women whose various capacities on all fronts led to an independent Timor-Leste.

The coming together of allied veterans repre-sents the mutual respect and alliance between the neighbouring states of Timor-Leste and Australia, and provides a platform on which to discuss ideas regarding veteran welfare, support and recognition.

War widows from Timor-Leste at the Field of Remembrance in Sydney in April. Photo by Paul Santelmann.

Commemorating Indigenous VeteransIndigenous veterans were commemorated in June during Reconciliation Week. A traditional smoking ceremony was held at the Sydney Hyde Park Memorial. Dawn Welfare of the War Wid-ows’ Guild NSW laid a wreath on behalf of war widows, and John Haines OAM laid a wreath on behalf of the RSL NSW. Many school children from all over Sydney attended the ceremony.

Indigenous veterans during a traditional smoking ceremony at the Sydney Hyde Park Memorial.

Dawn Welfare of the War Widows’ Guild NSW and John Haines OAM, of the RSL NSW.

Kangaroo March Children’s Choir

The children’s choir, in period dress, sang at the 2014 Anzac Field of Remembrance at St Andrew’s Cathedral, Sydney in April. Photo by Paul Santelmann.

Almost a century ago, the famous First World War recruitment marches made their way through rural and regional communities, inspiring a generation of young men to go off to war. Some communi-ties will reenact these marches for the Centenary of Anzac.

The Kangaroo March reenactment in NSW will depart Wagga Wagga on Saturday 5 September 2015 for the 36 day journey to Campbelltown.

The Rural Commemorative Children’s Choir from several schools in the Wagga Wagga area has been established, singing songs of yesteryear.

The choir, in period dress, sang at the 2014 Anzac Field of Remem-brance at St Andrew’s Cathedral, Sydney in April, in the presence of Her Excellency Professor the Honourable Marie Bashir AC CVO, the Governor of NSW and hundreds of war widows from conflicts extending from the First World War to Afghanistan.

The choir was accompanied by project committee member and Music Director, OJ Rushton of Talong, who wrote this song for them, reflecting our nation’s gratitude to soldiers and their families.

DidunoDiduno that men and women across our historyGave their lives for the freedom we’ve come to share?So let’s tell our kids the stories so they’ll know the reason why,Or we’ll wake up tomorrow and our freedoms won’t be there.The heroes of our past have shaped our nation of todayAnd who we are today will be the heritage ‑ of tomorrow.So let’s build on our foundationsAnd Advance Australia Fair andLeave our kids a heritage all of us can share.Diduno that each of us is holding the future?Tomorrow’s heritage is in our care,Let’s learn from the past as we live out every day,It’s up to us to Advance Australia Fair.The heroes of our past have shaped our nation of todayAnd who we are today will be the heritage - of tomorrow.So let’s build on our foundationsAnd Advance Australia Fair andLeave our kids a heritage all of us can share.Leave our kids a heritage built on faith and prayer.Copyright 2013. Duplication with permission by OJ Rushton.

Anyone interested in joining the Kangaroo March reenactment (either for the entire march or for a few days) is most welcome to apply. There will be a core group who will march/walk the entire route of approximately five weeks. Contact Jan Brown at joinup@kangaroomarch.org

Guide for Widow/ersA Ready Reference Guide for War Widow/ers has been published by the War Widows Guild in NSW. The eight-page guide gives useful information about the benefits and entitlements which war widow/ers can access. It also has a section on concessions available in NSW.

For further information, please contact the War Widows’ Guild on 1800 451 615.

13 — Vetaffairs Winter 2014

news from the AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL

Historic landing boat movesMelbourne’s Shrine of Remem-brance has become a major beneficiary of the Australian War Memorial’s Anzac Centenary programme with the loan of the historic Devanha lifeboat used to take Australian troops ashore at the landing on Gallipoli on 25 April 1915.

At the end of the First World War, the Devanha returned to peacetime duties carrying pas-sengers and freight for the P&O shipping line. A passenger, whose name has not been recorded, made a written appeal to preserve the lifeboat “as a war relic of our brave Anzacs who gave their all”.

Its donation to the AWM was arranged in the 1920s, and it remained on display in Can-berra for many years. In recent years extensive repair and con-servation work was undertaken to allow it to be displayed in the AWM’s former Dawn of the leg-end exhibition.

Careful research helped to establish details of its original appearance and equipment. Damaged areas were examined, stabilised, and repaired. Missing parts, such as the internal tim-ber floor and lining panels, were replaced. The surviving paint lay-ers provided detailed evidence of the boat’s 1915 colour scheme.

The Devanha was transported from Canberra to Melbourne by road for its installation as a major feature in the Shrine of Remembrance.

The lifeboat will become the centrepiece of the Shrine’s new Galleries of Remembrance

for the Anzac Centenary commemorations.

The only other surviving exam-ple of a Gallipoli landing boat – the iconic Ascot boat – will remain at the AWM, where it will be incorporated in the Memo-rial’s redeveloped First World War gallery scheduled to open in December this year.

New travelling exhibition: A camera on GallipoliThroughout the next 12 months, the AWM will tour a small trav-elling exhibition that showcases photographs of Anzac drawn from an extraordinary private collection assembled during the Gallipoli campaign.

This exhibition will display historic as well as previously unpublished images from a time and place that has become Aus-tralian legend. It will also explore the extraordinary life of the man behind the camera, soldier and surgeon Sir Charles Ryan.

Ryan’s sensitivity, and his empathy with those on both sides, is apparent in the series of candid photographs he produced on Gallipoli.

Ryan’s remarkable life encom-passes his service as a doctor with the Turkish army in 1877–78 (where he earned his nickname “Plevna” after a notable siege in which he took part); his close encounter with Ned Kelly, whom he treated at Glenrowan; his time as a leading Melbourne surgeon; his long service as a senior mili-tary officer; and the high civil and military recognition extended to him by his peers.

To find out more, or to register your interest in hosting this exhi-bition, please visit the AWM’s website www.awm.gov.au

Anzac DayThis year’s Anzac Day saw more than 62,000 visitors attend the Dawn Service and National Cer-emony in Canberra.

It was the biggest Anzac Day commemoration ever at the AWM, with attendance further bolstered by the presence of Their Royal Highnesses, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

This year the veterans’ march was led by Australia’s four living Victoria Cross recipients: War-rant Officer Class 2 Keith Payne VC, Corporal Mark Donaldson VC, Corporal Ben Roberts-Smith VC MG, and Corporal Daniel Keighran VC.

It was the first time the four men have marched together, and they received a standing ovation as they took the salute from the Governor-General, His Excellency General Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC (Retd), and His Royal Highness The Duke of Cambridge.

Coins commemorating the Anzac Centenary The Royal Australian Mint has recently released its next coins in its series commemorating the Anzac Centenary.

This coin series commemorates those Australians who have received the Victoria Cross and are honoured and remembered on the recently released, $5 Fine Silver Frosted Uncirculated Coin – The Victoria Cross for Australia coin. A shining bright tribute to everything the VC stands for, selflessness, courage, mateship and above all valour.

The Anzac Centenary Coin Programme also includes a coin to mark the 70th anniversary of the retirement of Avro Lancaster heavy bomber – G for George. The impressive aircraft is fea-tured on a 2014 $1 uncirculated coin. It is our way of honouring our airmen and women, including all those who served and died with Bomber Command.

The coins released to date are already proving to be a much sought after keepsake to remember this period in our history.

The coin programme is aimed to spark the interest of veter-ans, military enthusiasts, servicemen and women as well as coin collectors or numismatists. The coins to be released this year and over the coming four years will vary in their designs, paying tribute to Australians at War over the past 100 years.

Whether they are cherished as a memento of history, loved as a piece of art or as an investment the coins released as part of the Anzac Centenary Coin Programme will be valuable posses-sions for many.

The Royal Australian Mint’s website www.ramint.gov.au is regularly updated with details of new coin releases in the Anzac Centenary coin programme.

The Victoria Cross for Australia – 2014 $5 Fine Silver Frosted Uncirculated Coin (RRP $70.00): https://eshop.ramint.gov.au/2014-5-Silver-Victoria-Cross/310651.aspx

70th anniversary of Retirement: G for George – 2014 $1 Uncir-culated Coin (RRP $13.50): https://eshop.ramint.gov.au/2014-$1-Coin-G-for-George/310584.aspx

Off the shelf

If you would like your book featured in Off the Shelf, notices must not exceed 150 words in length. You are not required to send a copy of your book or extracts. Photos and book covers will not be featured. Not all notices can be featured due to space. Email vetaffairs@dva.gov.au or post your concisely written notice to GPO Box 9998 Canberra, ACT 2601.

Chamberlain, Ernest: The 33rd Regiment – North Viet-namese Army: Their Story (and the Battle of Binh Ba). Vietnam Veteran and linguist Ernie Chamberlain has recently written and privately-published another book that would certainly interest all who served in Phuoc Tuy province during the Vietnam War. The 33rd Regi-ment was the only North Vietnamese unit faced by the Task Force in Phuoc Tuy – and the toughest. In early June 1969, the 33rd Regiment occupied the village of Binh Ba north of the Australian Task Force’s base at Nui Dat. In the ensuing battle about 80 NVA soldiers were killed. What is now known, however, is that the 33rd Regiment’s 2nd Battalion was tasked to ambush the Task Force relief force led by (then) Major Murray Blake. However, that ambush was not “sprung”. If ini-tiated, the engagement might have even eclipsed Long Tan in our Vietnam “iconography”. While the book is not available commercially, the text of the book has been placed on the Internet as “free-to-read” – www.scribd.com/doc/217396459/The-33rd-Regiment-North-Viet-namese-Army-Their-Story-and-the-Battle-of-Binh-Ba Earley, David: Beneath Blades: Flying at the Ends of the Earth – a pilot’s journal is the amazing story of 45 years flying in some of the most inaccessible, demanding places on the planet. Stories include fear and exhilara-tion, discovery of personal faith, wildlife encounters, combat ops in SVN and Cambodia, a tree dwelling nomad tribe in West Papua, training in Moscow, high altitude operations, impossible airstrips, a devastating

accident, and senior management in today’s corpo-rate world. From Army pilot to Chief Pilot, to CEO of a major Australian helicopter company, this story will grip, entertain and inform those with an interest in adventure, aviation, cultural differences, management, personal faith and values. Soft cover 432 page colour photo edition is $33+ P&H. Black and white photo edi-tion is $23+ P&H. Visit www.dhearley.com for reviews and orders.Gage, Stephen M: Sandgate Army Drill Hall, Reflec-tions on a Military Presence. The history of a military presence at Sandgate/Shorncliffe area Brisbane with the tone directed towards the Drill Hall and those who served there. The book features numerous colour and black and white photographs of the different era’s. All the trials and tribulations to keep the hall local failed, but the hall was saved and shifted to 7th Brigade Park, Chermside and has a new lease of life. There is also a limited list of soldiers who served in the depot at the rear of the book. There are many surprising photo-graphs in the book that have not been seen by the public before. The book is A4, 146 pages. Contact the author stephengage@bigpond.com $30 plus $10 P&H.Lynch, Trevor: Nambucca Anzacs. The result of 12 years research, Nambucca Anzacs provides an incred-ibly detailed history of the locations and experiences involving men and women from the Nambucca District on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, and their involvement in World War I. Presented as a collection

of biographies, letters, diary extracts, and newspaper reports, this encyclopedic work of 1154 pages com-memorates the contribution of these people, and their history in the Nambucca District. Containing hundreds of stories, this magnificent and invaluable volume is a model social history for regional Australia and a won-derful resource for historians, lovers of military history, and those whose families hail from the Nambucca Dis-trict. The author, a serving soldier in the Australian Army, has painstakingly researched the personal mili-tary history of over 700 individuals, and their later lives. Contact Trevor Lynch 0408 669 449 and/or Google search Nambucca Anzacs.Spurling, Kathryn (Dr): The Mystery of AE1: Australia’s Lost Submarine and Crew. In 1914 the Royal Austral-ian Navy was sent to destroy the German Pacific fleet. On 14 September Australia’s first submarine AE1, left Rabaul Harbour on patrol and simply disappeared. This was the first loss of an Australian military unit. For the families of AE1’s 35 officers and sailors, life changed forever. The Mystery of AE1 traces the beginnings of Australia’s navy and explores: Who or what contributed to the loss? What killed the crew of AE1? Where do they lie? And why has Australia neglected them and their descendants for 100 years? $30 plus $9 P&H (cheques payable Missing Pages Books), credit cards and direct deposit accepted. Contact www.kathrynspurling.com email kspurling48@gmail.com or 10 Board Place Chi-fley, ACT 2606.

14 — Vetaffairs Winter 2014

PUBLICATIONS ORDER FORM (please print clearly)

To order, simply complete the order form and post your cheque/money order or credit card details to:

eSales Unit, Australian War Memorial, GPO Box 345 Canberra ACT 2601

phone (02) 6243 4236 or (02) 6243 4360

Please allow up to 6 weeks for delivery.

Or shop online at www.awm.gov.au/shop

Quan

tity

Deta

ils

number of copies total

From the trenches – $40.00Mystery of the AE1 – $30.00Animals in combat – $19.95And the band played on – $29.95And the band played on (music CD) – $25.00

Postage & handling (per delivery address) 1–3 items $8.00, 4–9 items $12.00, 10 or more items $18.00 $Total amount x $

Paym

ent D

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ls

Visa Mastercard Cheque/money order (made payable to the Australian War Memorial)

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ery A

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Veterans successful at the Wounded Warrior Trials

Having survived life-threatening inju-ries from an Improvised Explosive Device blast in Afghanistan, Australian veterans Michael Clarke and Warren Guse-Ware again served Australia at an international sporting challenge for wounded, ill and injured military personnel in California.

The United States Marine Corps Wounded Warrior Trials took place at Camp Pendleton in March. This Paralym-pic-style invitational event comprises two teams of marines – one of marine veterans and an Allies team of ten countries that served in Afghanistan or Iraq.

The trials provide an opportunity to further the rehabilitation of minds, bod-ies and spirits through intensive training, competition and camaraderie and provide a chance to focus on abilities, not disabili-ties. Warren described it as “focussing on what we could do, rather than what we couldn’t.”

World class coaches intensively prepare the athletes for their events. All partici-pants compete in three sports, and Michael and Warren elected cycling, shooting and swimming.

Still carrying the scars and consequences of their injuries four years after their time

in Afghanistan, Warren and Michael had largely completed formal rehabilitation. Both had found it difficult to return to competitive sport or vigorous training. The trials forced them to confront pain, exhaustion and their competitors, and to do their best for the Allies team.

Cycling was a revelation for Michael, who had never ridden competitively, and he crossed the line flanked by Ger-man and French Allied teammates, with Warren close behind. They shot well in competition, but were again out of medal contention.

On the final day of competition, with their reputations on the line, the Aussies delivered in swimming. Two Australian Defence Force team members medalled in below knee amputation events, and Michael took home silver in the 50m and 100m freestyle, and gold in the 50m back-stroke. Warren was selected to swim the first leg for the Allies in the marquee final event, the freestyle relay, and it was “gold, gold, gold” to the Allies.

Michael summed up the experience per-fectly. “It wasn’t about the medals… it was about having a crack,” he said.

Veterans Michael Clarke (left) and Warren Guse-Ware, pictured with DVA Commissioner Maj Gen Mark Kelly AO DSC.

✃

PUBLICATIONS AND ITEMS FOR SALE

From the trenches The best Anzac writing of World War One Edited by Mark DapinFrom the trenches is a collection of gripping and sometimes terrifying accounts of life at the front. Drawn from diaries, memoirs and letters, as well as poetry, reportage and prose, this inspiring collection reminds us that the Anzac legend is rooted in real and tragic circumstances. With writings from those on the frontlines as well as behind the scenes, From the trenches explores the personal experiences that forged the emerging national identities of Australia and New Zealand.Hard cover, 432 pages. $40.00

Mystery of the AE1 Australia’s lost submarine and crewKathryn SpurlingOn 14 September 1914, AE1 left Rabaul Harbour with orders to patrol east of Cape Gazelle. Then AE1 simply disappeared, never to be found. This was the first loss of a military unit during the First World War and the beginning of a terrible war for Australia. The Mystery of AE1 traces the beginnings of Australia’s navy and searches for answers to the questions that continue to be asked. Soft cover, photographs, 200 pages. $30.00

Animals in combatNigel AllsopThroughout history, animals have assisted humans in their wars. Animals in combat tells the story of military animals through the ages, their varying roles at different times, the roles animals play today, and what future they have in modern warfare. Soft cover, photographs, 143 pages. $19.95

And the band played on How music lifted the Anzac spirit in the First World War. Robert HoldenDrawing on music and song, Robert Holden pays homage to the camaraderie, innocent enjoyment and spontaneous entertainment which lifted the spirits of the Anzacs. He speaks of those under the shadow of the pyramids, in the trenches of the Western Front, on board battleships, recuperating in hospitals and even in Prisoner of War camps.Soft cover, photographs, 288 pages. $29.95

And the band played on (music CD)Music from the First World War.Inspired by Robert Holden’s book, this 2 CD album of original recordings brings the music of the First World War back to life, from enthusiastic recruitment anthems to laments for loved ones lost forever in battles far from home.42 original tracks on 2 CDs. 133 minutes of music. $25.00

15 — Vetaffairs Winter 2014

Reunion noticesRAAF personnel stationed in Darwin

before, during and after Cyclone Tracy Reunion: 1 Aug 2014, Sgts Mess RAAF Base Darwin. Contact Joe Kerr (08) 8945 2882, Daryl Mullan 0411 440 927, Peter Sloane 0487 441 761 or Dan Fuller (08) 8941 3447.

RANHFV and 723 Sqdn RAN ex mem-bers Remembrance Service and Reunion to mark Vietnam Veterans’ Day/Long Tan Day: 15–18 Aug 2014, at Old Bar NSW. Contact Christopher (Bomber) Brown (02) 9774 1640 or 0404 257 798, or John Macartney (02) 6557 4165, 0427 787 296 or jrmaca@bigpond.com

The Vietnam Veterans’ Day service: 18 Aug 2014, 11am, RAE Vietnam Memo-rial. This will be the last at the School of Military Engineering, Moorebank. RAE veterans from all conflicts are encouraged to attend and say farewell to their ‘Home of the Sapper’. Lunch to follow. As this service is on an active ADF base you must register to attend at vietmemorialcom@tpg.com.au

Port Hacking High School plaque dedi-cation ceremony: Vietnam Veterans’ Day, 18 Aug 2014, Miranda, Sydney. Looking for 1st year students from 1959 who later served in Vietnam – GEOFFREY A ASTLE RAR, IAN C BATH RAEME, KEVIN E BELL RAR, KEVIN K CHILD RA SIGS, KEVIN R GOUGH RAR, JOHN R GRAYDON SAS, ALAN J LOOMES RAR, DAVID J PYE RAR, LESLIE E SAURINE RAA, ROBERT J TARMAN RAEME. Contact Allan Wood, albawood@activ8.net.au or (03) 6395 6288.

RAEME Ares/CMF Reunion: 24 Aug 2014, Sherwood/Indooroopilly RSLA Sub Branch, 2 Clewley Street Corinda Qld. All serving and ex members of RAEME (Army Reserve/CMF or Regular Army) or associated Corps, their families, associated people and ex cadre staff members wel-come. Contact John Parfitt, (07) 3376 1778 or jparfitt@bigpond.com

A Field Bty RAA Vietnam Tour 1971 Reunion: 1–5 Sept 2014, North Kirra Qld. Newsletter to be posted shortly. Con-tact Robbo 0414 838 055, elizabethian@optusnet.com.au or Marty (07) 3285 4200 glanddpmartin@bigpond.com

HMAS Anzac/Tobruk Social Club Reunion: 8–12 Sep 2014, Coffs Harbour NSW. Celebrating the life of Lt. Bill McAllister, resident of Coffs Harbour. For all personal who served on HMAS Anzac D150-D59-F150 and HMAS Tobruk D37-L50. Contact President John (Rebop) Golotta (03) 5978 7808, 0417 399 168, Fax (03) 5978 5884 or hm.anzac@bigpond.com

34 Hy A.A. Battery Assoc and 131 Hy A.A. Battery Assoc Reunion: 18 Sept 2014, 11am, Angliss Conference Centre, 550 Little Lonsdale St, Melb. Contact Gordon Cameron (03) 5983 1602 or Sandra Goyen (03) 9842 7377.

BCOF (Japan) Assoc of Aust (inc) AGM and Reunion: 23–25 Sept 2014, Tumut NSW. News of claims for recognition and future of the Assoc will be discussed. All former members/partners invited. Contact Jim Patterson, Nat Sec, mpa84900@bigpond.net.au or (03) 5256 1257.

16th Minesweeping Squadron Reunion: 26–28 Sept 2014, Twin Towns Services Club and Resort, Tweed Heads NSW. To celebrate the 16th MSS 50th year since its first involvement in the Indonesian Confrontation. Contact Jacquie Clarey 0409 260 573, rod_jacquie_clarey@bigpond.com or Rod Clarey 0409 267 388, rod.clarey1@bigpond.com

Royal Aust Engineers Sergeants Mess Reunion: 3–5 Oct 2014, School of Military Engineering. All ex-members and current members are invited to the final ‘Back To’ to be held at the home of the Corps Moore-bank before we move to Holsworthy in 2015. If you held the rank of Sgt to WO in

the Corps you are very welcome. Contact Trevor Stenhouse trevor.stenhouse@defence.gov.au or (02) 8782 5469.

RAAF Williamtown Equipment/Supply Personnel Reunion: 3–5 Oct 2014, Nelson Bay NSW. All ex and current Equipment Supply personnel who served at RAAF Williamtown since the Base was established during WWII in 1941 are welcome. Contact Robert Paarson 0427 320 824, robertpaarson@bigpond.com or Michelle Moxey 0413 694 727, michelle614@bigpond.com

106 Fd Wksp RAEME 2014 Reunion: 3–5 Oct 2014, Wrest Point Casino, Hobart. For soldiers (all Corps) who served in either SVN or in Aust locations. Partners invited. View details at www.106fdwksp.com.au or contact Pat Downey (Hobart), 0417 336 218, patandrose@aapt.net.au

HMAS Leeuwin, 37th Rhoades Intake Reunion: 16–20 Oct 2014, Barossa Valley SA. Contact the Organising Committee, eddy_reksmiss@hotmail.com or website www.37thleeuwin.net

RAAF Airman Aircrew Reunion: 17–18 Oct 2014, Maroochydore RSL, Memorial Avenue, Maroochydore Qld. Serving and past airman aircrew and associates invited. Full details incl registration form available at www.airmanaircrew.com Contact Grendell ‘Skip’ Antony, 0412 602 353 or Shane Storer, 0409 991 910 or aaareunion2014@airmanaircrew.com

1/78 WRAAC Reunion: 17–19 Oct 2014, Melb. Seeking LIBBY LIMBRICK (nee White) and ANNE BARRON (nee Shore). Contact Kim Horne (nee Curtis), hornekb@gmail.com

70th Anniversary of the Battle of Leyte Gulf Commemoration: 19 Oct 2014, Gold Coast Qld. Navy veterans who served in the Philippines, RAN personnel, RAAF veter-ans who served in the famous ‘Return to the Philippines’, family & friends welcome. Contact Lyn Dee, Secretary/Treasurer, 0409 492 414 or lyndee23@bigpond.com

Junior Recruit First Intake July 1960 HMAS Leeuwin 70th Birthday Bash: 23–27 Oct 2014, Melb. Don’t miss this one! Con-tact Ian Dunn, 0422 514 982 or Don Barker, 0437 500 528.

Korea War Veteran Memorial Reunion: 24–26 Oct 2014, Canberra ACT. Korea War Vets, family & friends invited. Contact the Secretary, Wendy Karam, 0418 124 677 or wendy.karam@bigpond.com

RAASC Vietnam Supply Platoons Assoc Reunion: 27–31 Oct 2014, Wol-longong NSW. Contact Christina Luff, 0430 125 195 or bamberg01@bigpond.com

End of an Era Steam Ships Reunion No 4: 7–9 Nov 2014, Mandurah WA. Visit www.navystokers.org

RAE 1966 17 Constr. SQ. Reunion: 10 Nov 2014, Newcastle. Former members and partners welcome. Contact Jim Moss moss.rae@bigpond.com

HQ Tas Command Anglesea Barracks Reunion: 15–16 Nov 2014, Hobart. All OR’s who served at Anglesea Barracks or Dowsings Point 1968–70 welcome. Contact Greg Storr ( Flipper) (03) 5221 0847 or gregstorr@gmail.com

25th Anniversary of Independence for Namibia Reunion: 21 March 2015, Wind-hoek Namibia. For Australian and NZ service personnel and families, contact markhornertraining@gmail.com or 0438 567 554.

RAAF Reunion: Anzac Day weekend 2015, Bribie Island. All personnel posted BUT, LAV, RIC, 1SD, 2SD, 7SD, MTU and HQOC between 1967–1980 welcome. Contact Geoff Peepall ocean.slayer139@bigpond.com or Mike Snoxall mike@safetykeysolutions.com.au

110 LAA Bty RAA 50th Anniversary Reunion: 4–8 May 2015, Adelaide SA. The year 2015 is the 50th Anniversary of the formation of the Battery at Woodside SA. All past members/partners welcome. Contact Peter Woodrow (08) 8263 5556, 0409 111 052 or peterjennyw1@bigpond.com

HMAS Leeuwin, 4th Intake January 1962 Reunion: 11–15 May 2015, Alexandra Head-land, Sunshine Coast Qld. All members of The Fighting 4th, including wives/partners, are welcome to attend a full schedule of activities, including a visit to HMAS Dia‑mantina. Contact Garry (Crewie) Thorburn (02) 6676 3650 or gthorburn@bigpond.com

Royal Aust Engineers Tour: 18 June 2015, Gallipoli. To celebrate the ‘Water-loo Dinner’. Contact WO1 Graham Toll graham.toll@defence.gov.au or (02) 8782 3582.

24 Construction Squadron Group RAE deployment to Sabah Malaysia 1965 Reunion: Aug/Sept 2015, Brisbane. Contact (Spr) Ian Johnston (08) 9448 5590, ijoh2988@bigpond.net.au or (Spr) Jack Campbell 0400 896 388 jacksapper5@bigpond.com

Commemorating WWI’s Anzac Nursing Sisters – Aegean Voyage: September 2015. One week cruise on MS Serenissima from Athens to Istanbul. Bookings are through Wild Earth Travel in Christchurch, NZ www.wildearth-travel.com/trip/aegean-anzac-nursing-sisters-gallipoli/ or contact Clare Ashton, Hon Research Associate, Sydney Nursing School, Uni of Sydney, clare.ashton@bigpond.com

1st ARMD REGT LAD Vietnam 1968–71 Reunion: 16–18 Oct 2015, Halls Gap Big 4 Parkgate Caravan Park. Contact Russell Cunningham bungie12@bigpond.net.au or (03) 5766 2413.

Naval Health Services Reunion: 18-20 March 2016, Hobart Tasmania. Contact Shelley at Hannahk@bigpond.net.au

133 Sig Sqn Reunion: Looking for all ex-members of 133 Sig Sqn ‘Kingswood’ who would be interested in a reunion. Time and place to be decided. Photos welcome for a display. Contact Kelvin Reunion.133.sig.sqn@hotmail.com

4/70 Vehicle Mechanic A & B (and Fitters) course held 1970–71 at Bandiana Reunion: date to be confirmed. Anyone interested contact phil.case@bigpond.com or 0439 498 601.

16 — Vetaffairs Winter 2014

Submissions can be sent to:The Editor, Vetaffairs

GPO Box 9998Canberra ACT 2601Fax: (02) 6289 6025

Email: vetaffairs@dva.gov.auPlease note that Vetaffairs is

published on the internet. This includes all personal details submitted to this column. Due to space constraints,

not all notices can be published. Notices may be edited

for readability.

NavyReserve Forces Day celebra-

tions in 2014 will recognise the service of the Australian Navy and Military Expeditionary Force (AN&MEF) through the striking of official commemo-rative medallions available to descendants and supporters. To download the medallion appli-cation and order forms for the official AN&MEF Descendant, WWI and In Memory medal-lions, visit www.rfd.org.au For further information con-tact Lyn Scott, (02) 9908 1863, lyn-a-scott@bigpond.com

Clear lower deck of all former and serving members of HMAS Shropshire, HMAS Canberra I, II and NUSHIP Canberra. The Assoc aims to bring together those who served on HMAS Canberra and HMAS Shropshire. Visit www.hmascanberra-shropshire.asn.au/

ArmySeeking former members of

2/4 Aust FD Sqn RAE or their wives. Contact Daphne Filmer (Richard ‘Dick’ Filmer’s widow), (08) 8387 5320.

Former members, serv-ing members and friends of 2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment are advised that a Regimental Assoc has been established. Membership applications are available at www.2-14lhrqmi.asn.au or by writing to Secre-tary, 2/14 LHR(QMI) Assoc Inc, PO Box 508, Ashgrove West Post Office, Ashgrove Qld 4060.

Seeking information about Second AIF members who were WO Class 3 Platoon command-ers and the scheme under which they were introduced. I would like to find out more informa-tion on the scheme. Contact Garry Quigley, garryq99@ bigpond.net.au

Seeking anyone who served with Lance Corporal LAW-RENCE FRANK SEXTON, Royal Aust Infantry Corp, 2nd Battalion, RAR 07/05/67 to 21/05/68 Vietnam. Contact Allan, (08) 8945 6345, 0428 599 427.

Seeking ex members of the Australian Intelligence Corps, MURRAY JAMES FORSTER and STEVE J WELLS who served with Kevin R Thiele in 1970-71 and who were with him in Canungra. Contact Laurie Woods, woodsie@tadaust.org.au or 0458 794 719.

Seeking family members of L/Sgt R G MORRIS to claim his service clothes locker. The steel locker is unique – it has his name in large letters on the locker front, along with two large bot-tles (beer shape) crossed at the neck. R.G. Morris served on ‘Operation Jaywick’ and a photo we found shows him with what appears to be amber liquid. Contact George Covey, 0428 424 661, geo.covey@gmail.com

Seeking information on my father KENNETH GORDON GREENWOOD who fought in WWII with the 2/4 Commando squadron. I am planning a trip to Malaysia and want to see where he fought. I know he was in Tarakan but have no further information. Contact Carolyn Moore, carolyn1moore92@ hotmail.com

Seeking descendants of WWI soldiers and nurses who were born, lived or enlisted in the Balonne Shire (SW Qld) to contribute to a commemorative book being compiled for the 2015 centenary. Contact Karen Berry (St George RSL Sub-Branch), 0474 522 256, klb60@live.com.au

Seeking CPL ‘DOC’ NIGEL FITZGIBBON RAAMC, served at Kuamut Sabah in 1964 and possibly later as a WO1 in AATTV. May also be known as GORDON GRANT. Contact Ken Park, (07) 3408 8648.

Seeking family of LT JOHN ALBERT ANGUS, 2/2nd Pio-neer Battalion, KIA in Syria 1941. Contact Jim Mitchell, 2nd2ndpioneers@gmail.com

Seeking L/CPL STEVE WASIAK 1736195 Admin Coy 4RAR Vietnam 1971. Last con-tact Hendra area 2002. Contact John Drysdale, (02) 6765 2832, johnvonne@bigpond.com

2/6th Field Coy RAE, Java 1942 – seeking photos and biog-raphies for a book I am writing about the WWII Army service of my late father DX561 SAP-PER FRANK SCOTT. I would love to hear from the families of any Sapper of the proud 2/6th originals. Contact Peter Scott, 1 Plantation Road, Burleigh Heads Qld 4220, (07) 5535 6290, holdfast279@yahoo.com.au

Seeking information on CLAUDE VERNON HAR-RISON # 112, 12 Bn AIF, KIA 23/07/16 and his brother PERCY HERBERT HARRI-SON # 2454, 26 Bn AIF, KIA 05/11/16 both from Hobart.

Father remarried in 1923 to a Mary Belcher. Contact R Harri-son, roscoe13@westnet.com.au

ANTI-ARMOUR EXPERI-ENCES. Seeking Aust veterans from any conflict who have either actually engaged an enemy armoured vehicle or saw someone else do so with an anti-tank/anti-armour weapon including infantry, artillery, engineers, armour or all-corps weapons, to support an offi-cial Army task – A History of Aust Anti-Armour Operations. Contact LTCOL Russell Lin-wood, 0403 544 866, rlinwood@bigpond.net.au

Seeking ANTHONY MAT-THEWS 3795767, 16th Nasho Intake Pucka Jan 1969 & 1 Field Sqn. Contact Ted Beard, (03) 9761 9379.

Seeking a copy of a book on the 2nd SA Scottish Regt, WWII in which my father served. Contact Kaye Glyde, kglyde45@gmail.com

Seeking descendant/relative/friend of CPL TONY O’TOOLE 2/5th inf btn, who was my sec-tion leader during battle of Wau in Jan 1943. I have a depiction of a special event involving Tony and myself and wish to share. Contact Cecil Taylor, C/- RSL Lifecare , 7 Bentinck St Ballina NSW 2478, cta80514@bigpond.net.au

Seeking book entitled ‘On Target’ – the story of the 2/3rd Australian Light Anti-Air-craft Regiment compiled by members of the Regiment to document their six years of war in the Middle East and Pacific regions. Contact Joan Cham-bers, (03) 5334 2190 (reverse charges) or joanchambers@mmnet.com.au.

In conjunction with Black-town District Historical Society and Jim Bostock of Blacktown RSL, I am researching and writ-ing a book entitled ‘Diggers from the Shire of Blacktown’ which will give honour to those who served during WWI. We are principally concentrating on those who were born in the Blacktown Shire, those who enlisted from the Shire or who came to live in the Shire after the Great War. Contact John Horne, jhornex@live.com.au

Air ForceThe Catalina Flying Memo-

rial Ltd, a not for profit org, is seeking donations to help restore an original Catalina aircraft to its original WWII configuration and airworthi-ness. VH-CAT will return to its original base at Rathmines in full war livery and will be a fly-ing memorial for all Australians and also be a volunteer for the Marine Rescue Orgs. Contact Philip Dulhunty, (02) 9870 7277, philip@dulhunty.com

Seeking new members for the Tewantin Noosa Branch of RAAF Assoc. We are a small group that conducts meetings, lunches and social activities. Contact Patrick, President, (07) 5448 1457.

Searching for ‘CURLY’, a friend of my late father S/L John (Jack) Alexander Vanstone, RCAF (died July 1994). Curly was a pilot with the RAAF and in 1943 was in the UK at RAF Hullavington. He is mentioned numerous times in my father’s diary. Contact Mary Lynne Jones, jones.marylynn@gmail.com

Seeking information on DDT spraying at RAAF Base Butter-worth in late 1959/early 1960’s for a war widow’s VRB appeal. If any RAAF member was sprayed with DDT around this time con-tact Gary Conquest, Advocate Legacy Brisbane, 0407 336 940, gconquest@legacybrisbane.org.au

Seeking RAAF men attached to No. 9 Fighter Sector who served in Milne Bay, Jobadura and Goodenough Island in 1943-44. Also Rathmines Fly-ing Boat Base Weather Section 1945. I was the Radio Sonde Mechanic there. Contact Vic Krantz, 0406 366 936.

Seeking FAY MULLER, NATALIE HILL and LORNA SHERRIFF. Contact L W (Mick) Finn, St Anne’s Nurs-ing Home, 142 Davey St, Hobart Tas 7000.

Seeking information on JACK SNOWBALL, RAAF clothing store/shop, Keane St (off King-sway) London, 1945/46. After repatriation, he and wife Pat may have settled in Melb. Con-tact John Miller, (02) 6286 3897, johnmiller458@hotmail.com

On the night of 18/19 April 1944 Halifax LV956 of 466 Squadron RAAF was shot down. The Museum of the Resistance in Forges-les-Eaux, France is to create a display and a permanent memorial is to be erected at the site of the crash. Seeking family of Pilot F/Sgt BARRY WILLIAM CASEY 420638 DOB 11 April 1920, Newcastle NSW, DOD 19 April 1944. MUG F/Sgt WILLIAM BRIAN LYALL 419661 DOB 21 Jan 1921, Canterbury Vic, DOD 19 April 1944. Rear Gun-ner: F/Sgt JACK EDWARD SWAN 419234 DOB 30 April 1924, Glen Iris Vic. DOD 19 April 1944. Wireless Op: F/Sgt BRIAN RYMAN RICHARDS 426781 DOB 11 Jan 1924, Sand-gate QLD, PoW. Navigator: F/Sgt JOHN ROBERT WAL-LACE 423364 DOB 6 April 1917, Sydney, evaded. Contact Derek, 34 The Platters, Rainham, Kent ME8 0DJ UK, derekcamp@ btinternet.com

MiscellaneousThe Australian Defence Vet-

erans Party has expanded its membership and is now open to all Australians, including serv-ing members of the ADF and ex Allied service personnel living in Australia. See our Mission Statement at www.advp.org.au or visit us on Facebook.

The Military Brotherhood Military Motorcycle Club Ade-laide Sub Branch is a club for serving and ex-serving members of the ADF and Commonwealth forces, their families and sup-porter base. Their mission is to provide camaraderie, mate-ship and support and is keen to provide companion visits to veterans confined to hospital or home. Contact Graham Rudd, ruddy55@live.com.au

Gayndah RSL Qld is seeking the names of defence force per-sonnel from the Gayndah district (4625) who have been deployed to Iraq 1 & 2, Afghani-stan and in Peacekeeping duties in Timor, Solomons or any-where else, in order to update the Gayndah Cenotaph. Contact Craig Fothergill, (07) 4161 1148, 0429 401 134, rsl.gayndah@gmail.com

Seeking new members for the National Malaya & Bor-neo Veterans Assoc Aust Tas Inc. Ordinary membership is open to all ex-service personnel who served in Malaya/Malay-sia/Singapore/Borneo/Brunei/East Timor, etc from WWII through to the present day. We attend commemorative services in Malaysia (Ipoh) in June each year. Contact Ken McNeill (03) 6383 4677, info@nmbvaatasinc.com or visit www. nmbvaatasinc.com

Seeking new members for the Aust Defence Force Rifle Assoc WA Branch. The group shoots on the Swanbourne Range (SAS – Army range) and promotes safe use of firearms under mili-tary style control. Contact Kim Polkington, 0407 609 151 or Mike Rowe, 0408 470 074.

Seeking students 1945 to pre-sent from Carey Baptist Grammar Melb, who have served or are serving in the ADF for a Compendium for the Carey Archives. Contact John Pritchard, Carey Alumni 1961 & ex-serving member, 0411 107 445, jpritc@iprimus.com.au

Seeking a used SGT’s or WOII peak cap with wide red band issued with blues dress uniform, prior to my discharge in 1975. Also seeking one Cater-ing Corps metal hat badge. I would like to donate com-plete uniform to my local RSL Sub Branch. Contact Eddie Harbour, (03) 9786 7754.